Description
Clinical History
This 47-year old woman was admitted with terminal carcinomatosis. On examination, a hard liver and a right pelvic mass were palpable. She had been ill with constitutional symptoms for months and she finally sought medical attention. She was admitted for palliative care and died shortly afterwards.
Pathology
The left intact lung has multiple pale tumor nodules of varying size are scattered throughout the lung substance. Near the hilum several nodules are confluent. The hilar lymph nodes contain pale tumor tissue. Small tumor nodules from 2mm to 2cm can be seen beneath the thickened pleura on the costal, mediastinal and diaphragmatic surfaces. Histologically, these were metastatic deposits of adenocarcinoma. At post-mortem there was an adeno-carcinoma of ovary, with metastases in lungs, heart, liver and pericardium.
Further Information
Pulmonary metastases are more common than primary lung cancer. Malignant diseases arising anywhere in the body may spread to the lungs due to its rich blood supply and lymphatic drainage. Sarcomas usually metastasize by the bloodstream, and carcinomas spread either via the bloodstream or the lymphatic system or both.
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.
