3D Reconstruction of Patient-Specific Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: From CT Scan to Silicone Model

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a local, permanent, irreversible dilation of the infrarenal section of the aorta that risks rupture until treated. AAA is defined as an infrarenal diameter 1.5 times the normal diameter. Currently, surgeons intervene when the aneurysm reaches a maximum diameter of 50mm [1]. 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the US, with 500,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide [2]. This results in 15,000 deaths each year from AAA rupture in the US alone [3], with 8,000 deaths per year in the UK [4]. Literature supports the theory that small aneurysms may be as likely to rupture as larger aneurysms [5–7], and therefore, the need for a more reliable predictor of AAA rupture may have clinical importance.