Pulmonary embolism 3D printing model for inter-modality imaging study

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) requires imaging, for which different modalities can be used in clinical practice: nuclear medicine imaging techniques (planar scintigraphy, positron emission tomography) and computed tomography (CT) techniques (iodine mapping). Establishing a reliable study of these modalities in assessing functional impairment would enable more accurate evaluation of the pulmonary vascular obstruction index (PVOI), which has emerged as an independent predictor of recurrence in unprovoked PE. The purpose of this project is to develop a realistic 3D-printed lung phantom incorporating a simulated PE area, specifically designed for inter-modality study of PVOI. We designed a PE Lung Model (with a 5% PVOI) based on a CT scan of a healthy lung phantom using human lung segmentation. The model was 3D-printed via selective laser sintering (SLS) with Nylon 12 powder to ensure watertightness. We validated the prototype based on geometric consistency, density assessment, multi-modality imaging evaluation, motion management, and cost analysis. The simulated images were considered highly realistic across all imaging modalities (planar scintigraphy, PET and iodine mapping). The total cost of the model was under a thousand euros. This study demonstrates that 3D printing can reliably produce customizable lung phantoms from realistic imaging for inter-modality imaging studies.