Currently, 1-Dimensional MRI review is the standard, often leaving the patient with a less-than-accurate assessment of their tumor.  Use of 3-D Tumor Modeling (3DTM) in the patient clinical setting is useful to improve health literacy, understanding of surgical limitations, and improve patient satisfaction. 

Issues in neuro-oncology that frequently complicate the patient clinical interaction involve patient understanding of their disease, extent of tumor resection, and identification of recurrence.  Interestingly, these are some of the same issues that limit trainee education.  Working within the complexities of neuro-oncology, a provider must help patient to understand of their disease.  The most dreaded part of the new brain tumor patient visit is the initial imaging review as it is left to conjecture.  Follow-up surveillance imaging is also a high anxiety visit with the patient anticipating progression inter-surveillance periods.  These interactions are crucial to the physician-patient relationship and challenge patient compliance and satisfaction.  

We have recently instituted 3DTM in the patient care setting at time of pre- and post-operative evaluation as a best practice technique as well as during trainee didactic lectures. 

We measured improvement in positive patient perception of the encounter, satisfaction, and health literacy factors.  Using these models in the trainee lecture has also been helpful for anatomy and localization of symptoms.

3-D printed models offer a new approach to communicating information about diseases states to trainees and patients alike and should be considered as best practice.  We are working to further develop quantitative and qualitative tools to validate use of 3DTM in patient and trainee education.