Imaging market shows healthy gains

The diagnostic imaging marketplace is expected to generate worldwide revenues of $10.9 billion in 1999, an annual growth rate of 6.6%, according to a report recently published by market research firm Frost & Sullivan. In specific modality developments, technological advancements in MRI and ultrasound will help those techniques gain strength in the coming years, according to the Mountain View, CA-based firm.

In MRI, the introduction of short-bore magnets and open systems have brought the cost of scanners down and made them more accessible to the medical community, according to the report. The modality is expected to capture a larger share of medical imaging revenues, moving from an estimated 20.2% share in 1999 to 24.8% share by 2004.

Advancements such as power Doppler, 3-D imaging, new contrast agents, and image management are driving growth in ultrasound, according to Frost & Sullivan. After dipping slightly in 1998, sonography will grow from an estimated 24.8% of all imaging revenues in 1999 to 26% by 2004.

CT, x-ray, and nuclear medicine are predicted to see their positions decline in the future, however. CT is expected to generate 15.2% of all revenues in 2004, down from an estimated 17.5% in 1999. The modality contributed 18.2% of revenues in 1998.

X-ray procedures will post 30.7% of all revenues in 1999, down slightly from 31.6% in 1998. By 2004, x-ray will produce only 27.6% of all revenues, barely holding off ultrasound as the top imaging modality.

Nuclear medicine will record 6.9% of all revenues in 1999, up slightly from the 6.8% booked in 1998. Its share will decline in the coming years, however. Frost estimates the modality will contribute only 6.3% in 2004.