Introduction
Hepatectomy is the procedure of choice for most hepatic tumours and is considered the only curative option for colorectal cancer liver metastases. Significant recurrence rates and complication risks mandate the need for adequate preoperative planning and anatomical assessment of the liver prior to the procedure. 3D printing technology is rapidly expanding and beginning to find applications in medicine. The aim of this study was to produce a 3-D printed model of a liver based on patient-specific radiology data, to aid preoperative planning in partial hepatectomy.

Study design
CT and MRI scan data of a specific patient with a resectable liver tumour will be processed using volumetric visualization software. Image data representing the liver and tumour structures will be segmented. The resulting extracted surface data will be used to produce a model using a 3D printer. A panel of surgical representatives will evaluate the final model.

Pilot data
Preliminary results consist of 3D, graspable models of hepatic vessels, biliary structures and tumour, which are easily manipulated, can be explored from various angles, and give a detailed representation of spatial relationship between structures.

Forward Plan
Optimizing the image data, applying liver-specific volumetric software, and specialized segmentation algorithms will lead to better quality and more detailed segmented and extracted surface data resulting in less data artifacts and more anatomically correct model. The resulting graspable model would provide a powerful tool in anatomical assessment of liver, resection plane planning and surgical rehearsal prior to hepatectomy leading to improved complication rates and better survival.