3D print of tongue to help treat cancer

To treat tongue cancers more effectively and help patients better understand their condition, a simple yet cost-effective 3D print of tongue is now being used in the city.

Surgical oncologist  Dr Vishal Rao U S from HCG hospital with help from a Mumbai-based company, Anatomiz3D, has come out with the new utility for 3D printing in cancer surgery. The 3D printing technology involves segmentation of tongue and tumour as two different parts, with the help of CT/MRI scans.

“Both the parts are printed in two different colours for easy identification. The 3D printed model is a boon as it gives an in-depth understanding of the tumour in terms of its  depth, position and size,” said Rao, who is in-charge Head and Neck Services, Department of Surgical Oncology, HCG Cancer Centre.

Another advantage of the technology, according to Rao, is patients understand their condition better. “Many a time, when we show CT/MRI scans, the patients do not understand them and are confused. With 3D print, it is easy for us to explain the tumour easily,” he explained.

Apart from benefitting patients and doctors, the 3D model also helps plastic surgeons reconstruct the damaged tongue by helping them know the extent of the decay, the type and amount of tissue they would need to reconstruct.