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

Background: 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. Materials and Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusions: We successfully developed a puncture navigational template, providing an alternative method for establishing the rabbit VX2 LCM. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.