Description
Clinical History
The patient was a female aged 24 years, who presented 18 months before death with an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) after a single epileptic fit. Six months later she complained of blurred vision and headaches. Bilateral papilloedema was seen on ophthalmoscopy; however, there were no localizing signs to explain this. Further investigations showed a space occupying mass, which was biopsied and histologically diagnosed as a Grade III-IV glioma. The patient was treated with radiotherapy. A month after treatment commenced, the patient experienced weakness of the left arm and leg. Soon afterwards she was admitted with drowsiness and vomiting; thereafter, she rapidly and died.
Pathology
The specimen shows a large intracerebral lesion, which has obliterated the lateral ventricles and the inner 2/3 of the internal capsule and basal ganglia on the right side. It is infiltrating across the corpus callosum and distorting the aqueduct. The tumor is fairly well demarcated and vascular with numerous areas of hemorrhage and necrosis, causing its mottled variegated appearance.
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.
