Global x-ray market size

Growth in the total market for x-ray systems should accelerate over the next several years, according to a new report on the x-ray and CT markets published in January by Frost & Sullivan of Mountain View, CA. Across the entire x-ray market, higher equipment sales will be driven by an active replacement market and the arrival of digital detector technology. The ongoing financial crisis in Asia and concerns over capital equipment spending could limit sales, however.

Within x-ray, mammography will see the highest growth rates, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.5% from 1997 through 2004, according to the report. The radiography and cardiac cath segments will grow at estimated rates of around 4% over the same period, while other segments will record growth rates between 1% and 3%, the report states.