Researchers 3D Printed Kidney to Determine Optimal Radiation Dosage for Patients

It can be difficult to determine the best dosage of radiation for each particular patient, but 3D printing can help. Researchers at the University of Würzburg have been using 3D printing to prototype kidney models, or kidney phantoms, of different shapes and sizes in order to assess how much radiation is needed for optimal imaging.

The goal is to be able to develop patient-specific treatment, and kidneys were chosen for prototyping as they’re one of the highest-risk organs in radiation therapy and imaging.

A group of researchers in the UK performed a similar study earlier this year, using 3D printed organ models to determine the correct dose calibration for different organs using SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) imaging. In the new, kidney-specific study, University of Würzburg researchers 3D printed four kidneys of different sizes, representing a newborn, a one-year-old, a five-year-old and an adult.

The 3D printed phantoms were then used to test the accuracy of quantitative imaging for internal renal dosimetry. The study determined the proper nuclide-dependent SPECT/CT calibration factors for technetium-99m (Tc-99m), lutetium-177 (Lu-177), and iodine-131 (I-131).

Read more at 3D Print

Image Credit: University of Würzburg

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