3D printing of fillable individual thyroid replicas based on nuclear medicine DICOM data used as phantoms for gamma probe calibration

Abstract

Aim To proof the feasibility of manufacturing patient-indivdual (anthropomorphic) thyroid replicas from I-124 PET DICOM datasets by means of 3D printing. A possible field of application is the use of those phantoms for the calibration of gamma probes.

Methods After editing of the DICOM datasets using several software types and transferring into a dedicated stereolithography format, 10 fillable thyroid replicas (35–200 mL) made of polylactide acid were manufactured via 3D printing. All replicas were filled with a water-solution containing 3.5 MBq I-131 and applied to a standard neck phantom. Calibration factor measurements were carried out using a clinical gamma probe. Measurements were performed with three different tilts: + 15°, 0° and –15°. The influence of the replicas’ volume and the tilt was investigated.

Results Manufacturing of the replicas was successful in all cases. The time required for data processing was 13 ± 2 (median: 12, range: 9–25) min and 4–11 h for 3D printing (size-dependent). The printing process could be done overnight. Measured mean calibration factor for straight gamma probe positioning (0° tilt) was 31 965 ± 3360 (33 893, 25 470–34 253) cpm/MBq. A tilt of –15° resulted in lower calibration factors (–7.7 %), whereas a tilt of + 15° led to higher values (+ 9.5 %); p = 0.001. The calibration factors were highly inversely proportional correlated to the volume of the replicas (r = –0.91, p < 0.001).

Conclusion 3D printing of patient-individual (anthropomorphic) fillable thyroid replicas was feasable for a large range of volumes. The study demonstrates the influence of the volume as well as the tilt of the measured object for calibration factor measurements with gamma probes.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Diese Studie adressiert die Herstellung von patientenspezifischen (anthropomorphen) Schilddrüsenrepliken aus I-124-PET-DICOM-Datensätzen mittels eines handelsüblichen 3D-Druckers. Als mögliches Anwendungsgebiet wurden diese Phantome zur Kalibrierung von Gammamesssonden eingesetzt.

Methoden Nach Aufbereitung der DICOM-Datensätze mittels mehrerer unterschiedlicher Computerapplikationen und Übertragung der Daten in ein spezielles Stereolithografie-Format, wurden 10 füllbare Schilddrüsenrepliken (Volumen: 35–200 ml) im 3D-Druckverfahren hergestellt. Alle Repliken wurden mit einer Wasserlösung (inklusive 3,5 MBq I-131) befüllt und in ein standardisiertes Halsphantom eingebracht. Es wurden Kalibrierfaktoren unter Verwendung einer klinischen Gammamesssonde ermittelt. Die Messungen wurden mit 3 verschiedenen Neigungen der Sonde durchgeführt: + 15°, 0° und –15°. Der Einfluss des Replikatvolumens und der Gammasondenneigung auf den Kalibrierungsfaktor wurde berechnet.

Ergebnisse Die Herstellung der Repliken war in allen Fällen erfolgreich. Die für die Datenverarbeitung erforderliche Zeit betrug 13 ± 2 (Median: 12, Bandbreite: 9–25) Minuten und 4–11 Stunden für den 3D-Druck (größenabhängig). Der 3D-Druck konnte über Nacht erfolgen. Der Kalibrierfaktor betrug bei gerader Sondenpositionierung (0° Neigung) 31 965 ± 3360 (33 893, 25 470–34 253) cpm/MBq. Eine Neigung von –15° führte zu niedrigeren Kalibrierfaktoren (–7,7 %), während eine Neigung von + 15° höhere Werte ergab (+ 9,5 %; p = 0,001). Es zeigte sich eine starke umgekehrte Proportionalität der Kalibrierfaktoren zum Volumen der Schilddrüsenrepliken (r = –0,91; p < 0,001).

Schlussfolgerung Der 3D-Druck von patientenindividuellen (anthropomorphen) Schilddrüsenreplikaten war für eine große Bandbreite an Volumina möglich. Die Studie demonstrierte den Einfluss der Schilddrüsenvolumina sowie des Neigungswinkels auf die Messung von Kalibrierfaktoren mittels Gammasonden.

Key words

thyroid - phantom - replica - 3D print - uptake measurement

Schlüsselwörter

Schilddrüse - Phantom - Replikat - 3D Druck - Uptake Messung

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