ArticlePloS one2015
Streamlined, Inexpensive 3D Printing of the Brain and Skull.
Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
41 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A Systematic Review of Three-Dimensional Printing in Liver Disease.Journal of digital imaging · 2018Pooled it
- The role of 3D printing in anatomy education and surgical training: A narrative review.MedEdPublish (2016) · 2017Pooled it
- The role of simulation in neurosurgery.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2016Pooled it
- Advancing Precision Surgery: The Role of 3D Printing in Liver Surgery.3D printing and additive manufacturing · 2026Article
- Comparative Viability and Functionality of Bio-Jetted and Threaded Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.Small science · 2025Article
- Recent advances in 3D printing applications for CNS tumours.European journal of medical research · 2025Review
- Development of Three-Dimensional Anatomical Models of Dogs with Congenital Extrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Improving medical students recognizing surgery of glioblastoma removal/decompressive craniectomy via physical lifelike brain simulator training.BMC medical education · 2024Article
- Quality assurance of 3D-printed patient specific anatomical models: a systematic review.3D printing in medicine · 2024Article
- Narrative review of patient-specific 3D visualization and reality technologies in skull base neurosurgery: enhancements in surgical training, planning, and navigation.Frontiers in surgery · 2024Review
- Caution: shortcomings of traditional segmentation methods from magnetic resonance imaging brain scans intended for 3-dimensional surface modelling in children with pathology.Pediatric radiology · 2023Article
- Fidelity of 3D Printed Brains from MRI Scan in Children with Pathology (Prior Hypoxic Ischemic Injury).Journal of digital imaging · 2023Article
- Cell-Laden Gradient Microgel Suspensions for Spatial Control of Differentiation During Biofabrication.Advanced healthcare materials · 2022Article
- Applicability of Poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) for Three-Dimensional Printing of Tissue-Equivalent Samples.3D printing and additive manufacturing · 2022Article
- Three-Dimensional Printed Anatomic Models Derived From Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data: Current State and Image Acquisition Recommendations for Appropriate Clinical Scenarios.Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · 2022Review
- In-house 3D Model Printing for Acute Cranio-maxillo-facial Trauma Surgery: Process, Time, and Costs.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2021Article
- The accuracy of clinical 3D printing in reconstructive surgery: literature review andGland surgery · 2021Review
- Cranioplasty with three-dimensional customised mould for polymethylmethacrylate implant: a series of 16 consecutive patients with cost-effectiveness consideration.3D printing in medicine · 2021Article
- Hybrid computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging 3D printed models for neurosurgery planning.Annals of translational medicine · 2019Review
- Application of three-dimensional reconstruction and printing as an elective course for undergraduate medical students: an exploratory trial.Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Neuroimaging technologies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) collect three-dimensional data (3D) that is typically viewed on two-dimensional (2D) screens. Actual 3D models, however, allow interaction with real objects such as implantable electrode grids, potentially improving patient specific neurosurgical planning and personalized clinical education. Desktop 3D printers can now produce relatively inexpensive, good quality prints. We describe our process for reliably generating life-sized 3D brain prints from MRIs and 3D skull prints from CTs. We have integrated a standardized, primarily open-source process for 3D printing brains and skulls. We describe how to convert clinical neuroimaging Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images to stereolithography (STL) files, a common 3D object file format that can be sent to 3D printing services. We additionally share how to convert these STL files to machine instruction gcode files, for reliable in-house printing on desktop, open-source 3D printers. We have successfully printed over 19 patient brain hemispheres from 7 patients on two different open-source desktop 3D printers. Each brain hemisphere costs approximately $3-4 in consumable plastic filament as described, and the total process takes 14-17 hours, almost all of which is unsupervised (preprocessing = 4-6 hr; printing = 9-11 hr, post-processing = <30 min). Printing a matching portion of a skull costs $1-5 in consumable plastic filament and takes less than 14 hr, in total. We have developed a streamlined, cost-effective process for 3D printing brain and skull models. We surveyed healthcare providers and patients who confirmed that rapid-prototype patient specific 3D models may help interdisciplinary surgical planning and patient education. The methods we describe can be applied for other clinical, research, and educational purposes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.