{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,24]],"date-time":"2026-10-24T01:19:14Z","timestamp":1792804754052,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,16]],"date-time":"2023-04-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1681603200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"QuirofAM project","award":["Exp. COMRDI16-1-0011"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Exp. COMRDI16-1-0011"]}]},{"name":"European Union","award":["Exp. COMRDI16-1-0011"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Exp. COMRDI16-1-0011"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/019w4f821","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Pre-surgical simulation-based training with three-dimensional (3D) models has been intensively developed in complex surgeries in recent years. This is also the case in liver surgery, although with fewer reported examples. The simulation-based training with 3D models represents an alternative to current surgical simulation methods based on animal or ex vivo models or virtual reality (VR), showing reported advantages, which makes the development of realistic 3D-printed models an option. This work presents an innovative, low-cost approach for producing patient-specific 3D anatomical models for hands-on simulation and training. Methods: The article reports three paediatric cases presenting complex liver tumours that were transferred to a major paediatric referral centre for treatment: hepatoblastoma, hepatic hamartoma and biliary tract rhabdomyosarcoma. The complete process of the additively manufactured liver tumour simulators is described, and the different steps for the correct development of each case are explained: (1) medical image acquisition; (2) segmentation; (3) 3D printing; (4) quality control\/validation; and (5) cost. A digital workflow for liver cancer surgical planning is proposed. Results: Three hepatic surgeries were planned, with 3D simulators built using 3D printing and silicone moulding techniques. The 3D physical models showed highly accurate replications of the actual condition. Additionally, they proved to be more cost-effective in comparison with other models. Conclusions: It is demonstrated that it is possible to manufacture accurate and cost-effective 3D-printed soft surgical planning simulators for treating liver cancer. The 3D models allowed for proper pre-surgical planning and simulation training in the three cases reported, making it a valuable aid for surgeons.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/gels9040339","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,17]],"date-time":"2023-04-17T02:02:59Z","timestamp":1681696979000},"page":"339","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":35,"title":["Patient-Specific 3D Printed Soft Models for Liver Surgical Planning and Hands-On Training"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1151-3042","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Arnau","family":"Valls-Esteve","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Innovation Department, Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"},{"name":"Medicina i Recerca Translacional, Facultat de Medicina i Ci\u00e8ncies de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer de Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"3D Unit (3D4H), Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aitor","family":"Tejo-Otero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre CIM, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya (CIM UPC), Carrer de Llorens i Artigas, 12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7904-0288","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pamela","family":"Lustig-Gainza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre CIM, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya (CIM UPC), Carrer de Llorens i Artigas, 12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4058-4162","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Irene","family":"Buj-Corral","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal, 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4284-9649","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Felip","family":"Fenollosa-Art\u00e9s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre CIM, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya (CIM UPC), Carrer de Llorens i Artigas, 12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal, 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2642-930X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Josep","family":"Rubio-Palau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medicina i Recerca Translacional, Facultat de Medicina i Ci\u00e8ncies de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer de Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"3D Unit (3D4H), Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"},{"name":"Pediatric Surgical Oncology Unit, Pediatric Surgery Department, Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"},{"name":"Maxillofacial Unit, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ignasi","family":"Barber-Martinez de la Torre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5154-1796","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Josep","family":"Munuera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medicina i Recerca Translacional, Facultat de Medicina i Ci\u00e8ncies de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer de Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"3D Unit (3D4H), Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Constantino","family":"Fondevila","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation, General and Digestive Surgery, Metabolic and Digestive Diseases Institute (ICMDM), Hospital Cl\u00ednic, CIBERehd, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0254-4488","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lucas","family":"Krauel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medicina i Recerca Translacional, Facultat de Medicina i Ci\u00e8ncies de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer de Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"3D Unit (3D4H), Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"},{"name":"Pediatric Surgical Oncology Unit, Pediatric Surgery Department, Hospital Sant Joan de D\u00e9u, Universitat de Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5340616","DOI":"10.1155\/2019\/5340616","article-title":"The Role of 3D Printing in Medical Applications: A State of the Art","volume":"2019","author":"Aimar","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. 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