Computed tomography- and magnetic resonance imaging-visible, patient-specific canine head phantom via 3-dimensional anatomy printing for neurosurgical training and biopsy planning: a proof of concept.

Patient-specific 3D-printed canine head phantoms offer a realistic, multimodal imaging-compatible tool for neurosurgical training and biopsy planning.

This proof-of-concept study describes the development and evaluation of a patient-specific canine head phantom designed for veterinary neurosurgical training and procedural planning. Using historical CT and MRI data from a dog diagnosed with a brain glioma, the research team established a workflow incorporating image segmentation, computer-aided design modeling, and multimaterial PolyJet-based 3D printing with a digital anatomy printer. Two phantoms were produced: one optimized for both CT and MRI imaging, and another optimized solely for CT. Both phantoms were subsequently scanned and evaluated for anatomical accuracy and imaging fidelity by comparing Hounsfield units (HU) and MRI signal intensities against the original patient data. Results demonstrated qualitatively consistent CT attenuation and MRI signal characteristics relative to the patient's tissues. Quantitative analysis along a predefined intracranial trajectory revealed minimal dimensional deviation from the original anatomy. While imaging contrast between structures was successfully reproduced, measurable differences in CT attenuation values and MRI signal characteristics of the printed materials were identified. The study establishes a reproducible, streamlined workflow for creating patient-specific canine head phantoms with intracranial pathology. These models show promise as practical tools for advanced veterinary neurosurgical education, trajectory planning for intracranial procedures such as brain biopsy, and pre-surgical simulation. Further refinement of printing materials to more closely replicate tissue-specific imaging properties is warranted before broader clinical implementation.

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