Objective To explore the application value of 3D printed nasal skull base tumor model in the clinical and teaching of neurosurgery.Methods Total of 13 patients with skull base tumor were selected,the virtual 3D model was reconstructed and the equal-scale tumor model was 3D printed according to the image data before surgery.40 students who participated in the standardized training of residents in the neurosurgery department were selected as teaching ob-jects,and they were randomly divided into the traditional teaching group and the 3D printing mod-el teaching group.The teaching effect of the two teaching modes was evaluated from the examina-tion of theoretical knowledge and clinical skills,the satisfaction of teaching methods,the increase of understanding of neuroanatomical structure,the improvement of three-dimensional space i-magination and the stimulation of active learning interest.Before surgery,the surgeon evaluated the spatial location of the tumor,preoperative talk,preoperative planning,intraoperative reference and postoperative anastomosis according to the 3D printed tumor model and traditional image da-ta.Results The virtual 3D model was reconstructed and the equal-scale tumor model was 3D printed before operation in all the 13 patients with skull base tumor.The 3D model clearly showed the tumor and its adjacent skull,blood vessels and nerves.We found that students in the 3D prin-ted model teaching group had better scores in the assessment of theoretical knowledge and clinical skills than those in the traditional teaching group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).Moreover,the 3D printed model teaching group was higher than the traditional teaching group in terms of satisfaction with teaching methods,increasing un-derstanding of neuroanatomical structure,improving three-dimensional space imagination and stimulating active learning interest.We also found that,in addition to preoperative planning,the 3D printed model group scored higher than the traditional image group on tumor spatial display,preoperative talk,intraoperative reference,and postoperative anastomosis.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with the tradition-al surgical planning and clinical teaching based on two-dimensional image data,3D printed tumor model has better surgical planning and clinical teaching value.