3D HEART SAVES LIFE OF YOUNG ACTRESS WITH RARE TUMOR
At Humanitas Cancer Center in Milan, a groundbreaking approach was employed to treat Giulia Tarantino, a 28-year-old actress diagnosed with a rare cardiac sarcoma. In collaboration with Humanitas University’s 3D Innovation Lab, a patient-specific 3D-printed heart model was created to simulate the tumor’s mechanical properties, enabling surgeons to plan a complex procedure with precision.
The process involved 10 days of meticulous 3D modeling by engineering specialist Nada Mansour, utilizing imaging data from CT, MRI, and echocardiography. The model was then printed using specialized materials to replicate the heart’s geometry and tissue consistency. This allowed the surgical team, led by Dr. Lucia Torracca, to rehearse the operation in detail, reducing risks associated with the rare tumor’s location and complexity.
The successful surgery involved the extraction and reimplantation of Giulia’s heart, a procedure performed in few centers worldwide. Following a challenging recovery, Giulia returned to the stage, describing her experience as a “rebirth.” Her story is featured in the AYA (Adolescent and Young Adult) program, which supports young oncology patients at Humanitas.
This innovative use of 3D printing in surgical planning underscores the potential of personalized medicine and multidisciplinary collaboration in treating complex medical cases.
Why this matters for medical tourists:
-
Cutting-edge technology: Access to advanced 3D modeling and printing techniques for surgical planning.
-
Expert care: Treatment by a multidisciplinary team specializing in complex cardiac surgeries.
-
Personalized treatment: Customized surgical approaches tailored to individual patient anatomy.
-
Innovative research: Participation in pioneering medical research and clinical applications.
Humanitas continues to lead in integrating technology with patient care, offering international patients access to state-of-the-art treatments and innovative medical solutions.
References: Humanitas News
Humanitas is a highly specialized teaching and research hospital.
It combines specialized centers for the treatment of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, neurological and orthopedic disorders, as well as an Ophthalmology Centre and a Fertility Center. 118 Operation Theatres, 110,000 Annual surgeries, 3,400 Physicians, 190,000 Annual Inpatient Admissions, 14,000,000 Annual Outpatient Visits.
Humanitas also operates a highly specialized Emergency Department.
LEARN MORE
The International Department of Humanitas Research Hospital has helped over 20.000 people from over 150 nations to receive exceptional medical care, offered by world-level doctors that use state-of-the-art technology and follow the latest care protocols. The goal of the Department is to ensure that international patients have comfortable and stress-free stay at our Hospital. To this end, we offer continued organizational, language, and psychological support and provide interpreters, night nurses, remote 24h translation services, medical reports in patients’ native languages, and other services, which facilitate our patients’ treatment and recovery.
Note, that Humanitas Research Hospital holds contractual provider agreements with numerous international insurance companies. Therefore, if you have a medical plan with one of these insurers, you can receive medical care at Humanitas without bearing the cost, by letting your insurer cover the expenses.
Humanitas International Department is the reference point for non-Italian patients throughout the entire course of treatment, acting as your care tutor.
