Purpose
Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects approximately 1% of newborns globally, requiring early life-saving medical interventions. Accurate diagnosis is critical yet challenging due to CHD’s intricate anatomy and variable presentations, often resulting in misdiagnoses, repeated diagnostic studies, and management delays. Traditional didactic imaging lectures may not adequately convey CHD’s spatial complexity, highlighting gaps in radiology education. Given the increasing use of 3D printing in medical education, we sought to determine whether interactive educational interventions improve residents’ understanding of CHD and whether 3D-printed models offer advantages over 2D diagrams.

Methods
A case-controlled educational intervention study was conducted on a single day in 2024. All trainees received a traditional two-hour lecture covering segmental anatomy and cyanotic CHD. Trainees were grouped by level of training and randomly assigned to a control (using 2D diagrams) or intervention group (using 3D heart models) for a 30-minute hands-on lab. Four congenital lesions were reviewed using the assigned visual aids. Both groups completed identical pre- and post-lab quizzes.

Results
27 trainees participated in the study: 2 medical students, 2 radiology fellows, and 23 residents. Both groups significantly improved scores following the interactive lab. The 3D group improved by 24% (p=0.0021) and the 2D group improved by 21% (p <0.0001). No significant difference was observed between groups.

Conclusion
Trainees’ understanding of CHD improved significantly after a relatively short educational intervention, regardless of using 2D or 3D teaching aids. However, there was no significant difference between the groups receiving 2D and 3D teaching aids, suggesting that the mode of instruction (2D vs. 3D) was not as important as an interactive lab session. While 3D models hold promise for enhancing medical education, adequate time and resources are essential for their optimal use. Future research should explore extended exposure to 3D models to further assess their educational value.