Ultrasound procedure volume grows

The diagnostic ultrasound market saw 5% growth in per-site volume in hospital radiology units in 1998, according to the latest Technology Marketing Group report, published last month. The TMG Diagnostic Ultrasound Census, conducted in cooperation with the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine, found that ultrasound procedures in the U.S. last year totaled 14.7 million in 1875 hospital radiology sites of more than 200 beds. At least 42% of these sites expect to buy new equipment in the next three years, and average procedure volume per ultrasound device is 2350 procedures. Des Plaines, IL-based TMG’s report covered about one-third of the sites and installed units in the U.S.