Current State and Outlook in Medical 3D Printing and the Role of Radiology

Abstract Medical three-dimensional (3D) printing is playing an increasingly important role in clinical practice. The use of 3D printed models in patient care offers a wide range of possibilities in terms of personalized medicine, training and education of medical professionals, and communication with patients. DICOM files from imaging modalities such as CT and MRI provide the basis for the majority of the 3D models in medicine. The image acquisition, processing, and interpretation of these lies within the responsibility of radiology, which can therefore play a key role in the application and further development of 3D printing. The purpose of this review article is to provide an overview of the principles of 3D printing in medicine and summarize its most important clinical applications. It highlights the role of radiology as central to developing and administering 3D models in everyday clinical practice. This is a narrative review article on medical 3D printing that incorporates expert opinions based on the current literature and practices from our own medical centers. While the use of 3D printing is becoming increasingly established in many medical specialties in Germany and is finding its way into everyday clinical practice, centralized “3D printing labs” are a rarity in Germany but can be found internationally. These labs are usually managed by radiology departments, as radiology is a connecting discipline that – thanks to the imaging technology used to produce data for 3D printing – can play a leading role in the application of medical 3D printing. Copying this approach should be discussed in Germany in order to efficiently use the necessary resources and promote research and development in the future.