A 3D printed dog head model for brain surgery practice
Original title: Computed tomography- and magnetic resonance imaging-visible, patient-specific canine head phantom via 3-dimensional anatomy printing for neurosurgical training and biopsy planning: a proof of concept.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done on cells in a lab, not in people. It is a very early step.
This was an early test of a printed model, not a treatment for people.
The short version
Researchers printed a life-like dog head to help vets practice brain surgery.
What was studied. Researchers used old CT and MRI scans from one dog with a brain tumor called a glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary. They used those scans to 3D print a model of the dog's head, then scanned the model.
What they found. They made 2 dog head models. One was set up for both CT and MRI, and one was set up for CT only. The size of the model closely matched the real dog's anatomy along the planned path into the brain. On scans, the printed materials looked much like real tissue, but there were measurable differences in the CT and MRI signals.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This is a tool for training, not a treatment. Vets may be able to practice a brain biopsy and plan the path before they touch a live animal. That could make the real procedure safer for dogs.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean anything new for people with brain tumors. No person was treated here. It is a model of a dog's head, not a drug or a therapy. It was made and tested one time as a proof of concept. It is not a cure, and it is a long way from everyday care.
Source: PubMed, August 12, 2026 · Read the original
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