When a team of Spanish surgeons got depressingly frustrated trying to fix a tumor around the stomach of a 5-year old boy, they turned to 3D printing, and successfully managed to remove it, thereby saving the boy's life.

The boy had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, which is a type of cancer most common in children.

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The cancer tumor generally occurs around the stomach, and since it is surrounded by delicate organs and arteries, very high precision and accuracy is required in surgery for successful removal of the same. The surgeons had operated on the boy two times, but each time they failed to remove the tumor.

"We tried the surgery twice but we failed because we could not access," head surgeon Jaume Mora said in a press conference. "Instead of surrendering, we tried to find a solution."

Mora and his surgical team at Hospital Sant Joan de Deu in Barcelona then sought help from CIM Foundation at Polytechnic University of Catalonia to create an identical 3D printed version of the actual tumor. 

With the help of a 3D printer the team created hardened organs and arteries surrounding the tumor. They even created a tumor-less replica of the boy's innards so that they could get an idea of the actual insides of the boy once the tumor is removed.

The surgeons practiced on the 3D printed tumor so that they can prepare themselves for the actual surgery.

After taking a week and a half practicing, the surgeons performed the surgery and succeeded in removing the tumor. The hospital and the team was so impressed that they commissioned 3D-printed models for two other patients.

Tags3D Printing, News