Description
Clinical History
A 56-year old male presented with a generalized seizure. He remained unconscious after this seizure and later died. A collateral history revealed 6 months of progressive confusion, short-term memory loss and personality change.
Pathology
Coronal sections of the brain post mortem show a 4cm necrotic and hemorrhagic tumor. Tumor invasion from the inferior frontal lobe into the lateral ventricle is apparent. Meningeal spread is evident on examination of the posterior aspect of the specimen.
Further Information
Gliomas are the second most common cancer of the central nervous system after meningiomas. The term glioma refers to tumors that are histologically similar to normal glial cells i.e. astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells. They arise from a progenitor cell that differentiates down one of the cell lines. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; also called glioblastoma) develop from the astrocyte lineage. GBMs can arise in the brain de novo or evolve from lower-grade astrocytomas or oligodendrogliomas. GBM is often referred to as a grade IV astrocytoma. They are differentiated histologically from anaplastic astrocytomas by necrotizing tissue surrounded by anaplastic cells as well as by the presence of hyperplastic blood vessels.
GBMs are more common in males. It is most commonly diagnosed in the 6th decade of life. Genetic risk factors include neurofibromatosis type 1 and Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Previous brain radiotherapy is also associated with increased risk of GBM. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the GBM, but may include any of the following:
- Persistent headaches
- Double or blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in mood and personality
- Changes in ability to think and learn
- New onset of seizures
- Speech difficulty of gradual onset
Diagnostic tools include computed tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Around 50% of these tumors occupy more than one cerebral hemisphere. GBMs commonly extend into the ventricular walls or meninges, and thus into the central spinal fluid (CSF). Spinal cord spread is uncommon.
Metastasis beyond the central nervous system is rare. Tumor growth causes cerebral oedema leading to increased intra-cranial pressure. These are biologically aggressive tumors, and if left untreated survival is typically 3 months. The mainstay of treatment for GBMs is surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy.
Advantages
- Anatomically accurate and identical to real specimen
- No ethical issues - not real human body parts
- Reasonably priced
- Available within a short lead time
- Reproducible, several identical prints can be used as a classroom set
- Can be produced in different sizes to cater for the needs of the teacher
Human Cadavers
- Access to cadavers can be problematic. Many countries cannot access cadavers for cultural and religious reasons
- Cadavers cost a lot money
- High cost for establishing your own plastination suite
- Wet specimens cannot be used in uncertified labs
- Dissection of cadavers is a lot of staff time and that is a cost
- Storage of cadaver material needs special refrigeration etc. which has coast
- If you want another specimen you have to start all over again
Plastinates
- Costs
- Ethical issues
- Timeframe for plastination process
- Many countries do not allow their importation
- One of a kind
Superior 3D print results compared with conventional methods
- Vibrant color offering with 10 million colors
- UV-curable inkjet printing
- High quality 3D printing that can create products that are delicate, extremely precise and incredibly realistic
Clear Support Material
- To avoid breakage of fragile, thin, and delicate arteries, veins or vessels, a clear support material is printed on such spots. This makes the models robust and can be handled by students easily.
