Computed Tomographic Analysis of the Anatomical Characteristics of the Canine Prostatic Artery and Development of a Three-Dimensional Canine Prostate Cancer Model for Simulation of Prostatic Artery Embolization

Abstract

The prognosis of prostate cancer in male dogs is considered poor to grave, and prostatic artery embolization (PAE) has been proposed as an alternative to traditional treatment options. This study analyzed the anatomical characteristics of the prostatic artery using computed tomographic (CT) angiography and developed a three-dimensional (3D)-printed prostate cancer model for PAE training. Computed tomographic images from 37 control dogs and 14 prostate cancer dogs were analyzed, with 102 pelvic sides classified into three types: the prostatic arteries originated from the internal pudendal artery in 100, an internal iliac artery in 1, and the umbilical artery in 1. Bodyweight was positively correlated with the diameters of the abdominal aorta and pelvic arteries in both groups. (p <.01). However, the normalized prostatic artery diameter was significantly larger for the prostate cancer group (p <.05). Computed tomography revealed local invasion of the bladder in 11 of the 14 dogs. Of 9 of the 11 dogs with confirmed bladder invasion, the caudal vesical, umbilical, and prostatic arteries were cancer-feeding in 9, 1, and 9, respectively. Based on the CT angiography images, a 3D-printed prostate cancer model was developed using a representative case that was close to the average value of each arterial blood vessel diameter. The model was used to simulate PAE, and successful embolization was confirmed using fluoroscopic guidance. Preprocedural CT angiography is useful for assessing the anatomical characteristics of the prostatic artery, and the 3D-printed prostate cancer model demonstrated the feasibility of PAE simulation.