Surgeons develop 3D-printed liver models to plan complex cancer surgery

Mr Arjun Takhar, a consultant hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer surgeon at University Hospital Southampton, and the 3D-printed liver model (PLANETS Cancer Charity/PA Wire)

Surgeons have launched a new technique to use 3D printed models of patients’ livers to help them perform a complex cancer operation.

Medics at University Hospital Southampton have been supported by the Planets Cancer Charity to help produce the models, which are tailored to each patient to plan surgery and to ensure the best outcomes from “irreversible steps” carried out during an operation.