Development of a 3D-Printed Navigational Template for Establishing Rabbit VX2 Lung Cancer Model

The CT-guided percutaneous puncture-inoculation for establishing the rabbit VX2 lung cancer model (LCM) is time-consuming, requires repeated CT scans, and has a high complication rate. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a navigational template using 3D technology to provide an alternative method for establishing the model with improved success and complication rates.

Ideal pressure was determined using chest CT data from 15 anesthetized rabbits fitted with sphygmomanometer cuff around their chests. Subsequently, a preliminary 3D template with a square window and cross-sign to facilitate precise installation was designed. Using another 20 rabbits fixed with the preliminary template, an ideal common puncture point and parameter were determined, a navigational tunnel was set up on the template surface, and the final puncture navigational template was printed out. Eight-four rabbits (42/group) were assigned to the experimental (template-guided puncture) and control (traditional puncutre) groups and underwent VX2 tumor-fragment inoculation to validate the template. Differences in various parameters between two groups were analyzed.

The ideal pressure was 30 mmHg. All rabbits were inoculated successfully and the template adequately fit the rabbit chest. The experimental group displayed significantly better operation time (198.93±36.64 vs 735.14±91.19 seconds); number of CT scans (0 vs 7.19±1.64); pneumothorax (11.9% vs 35.7%), chest seeding (16.7% vs 35.7%), and mid-lung field tumor-bearing (88.1% vs 59.5%) rates than the control group (all, P <0.05). The groups did not differ in rib injury, tumor volume or survival time (all, P > 0.05).

We successfully developed a puncture navigational template, providing an alternative method for establishing the rabbit VX2 LCM.