Accuracy of plastic replica of aortic aneurysm using 3D-CT data for transluminal stent-grafting: experimental and clinical evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
To plan stent-grafting for aortic aneurysms with complicated morphology, we prepared life-sized aortic replicas by laser stereolithography using helical 3D--CT data. The accuracy of the replica was evaluated by measurement of vessel phantoms and clinical 3D--CT data.


METHODS
An imaginary aortic wall was created from helical CT images of the aorta, and a hollow plastic replica was produced by laser stereolithography. The accuracy of the replica was evaluated in five abdominal aortic aneurysms by experimental phantom studies and measurements of the replicas.


RESULTS
The mean difference in measurements between 3D--CT images and model vessels and between 3D--CT images and aortic replicas was 0.2 mm each. Therefore, the difference in measurements between real aortic aneurysms and the replicas was at most 0.4 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The accuracy of the replica is satisfactory, making it useful for preoperative evaluation and simulation for stent-grafting.
Department of Radiology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. ky-kato@est.hi-ho.ne.jp
K
K
Kato
T
T
Ishiguchi
K
K
Maruyama
S
S
Naganawa
T
T
Ishigaki
D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed