A new market research report "Breast Imaging Technologies Market (Digital Mammography,3D Breast Tomosynthesis, Breast MRI, Breast Ultrasound, Molecular Breast Imaging, Optical Imaging, PET/CT/PEM Modalities) -Technology and Market Analysis & Global Forecasts to 2017" attempts to showcase the market impact of current and emerging breast imaging technologies with excellent growth potential in the coming five years.
The technologies profiled are segmented into ionizing breast imaging modalities (including mammography, 3D breast tomosynthesis, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), positron emission mammography (PEM), molecular breast imaging (MBI), positron emission tomography (PET) and breast specific gamma imaging (BSGI) and non-ionizing breast imaging technologies (breast MRI, optical imaging, breast thermography and breast ultrasound.
Breast imaging procedures have a significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Digital mammography comprises more than 45 percent of the entire breast imaging market. However, owing to its poor sensitivity, high false positives, alternative technologies such as MRI, 3D breast tomosynthesis, ultrasound and nuclear imaging are attaining significance for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Despite this, physicians and healthcare providers are still reluctant to use breast MRI, primarily due to its high investment costs. However, new inroads are being designed providing a hope that an inexpensive means of performing breast MRI may be imminent.
Another modality rising to the forefront is CBCT and whole breast ultrasound. These technologies continue to improve exponentially, with a few units now readily available in the market. Molecular breast imaging is another modality emerging as a possible supplemental screening tool for women with dense breasts. Another emerging technology which recently made its entry into market is the photo acoustic optical imaging technology which is able to penetrate deeply into the breast, uses no radiation, and so is completely non-invasive. A major advantage of optical imaging and cone beam CT is patient comfort, because the breast is not compressed.
In the future, it is likely that several of these modalities will gain widespread clinical acceptance and find specific roles in the diagnosis and monitoring of breast cancer.
The global breast imaging market is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.37% from the year 2012 reaching approximately $5 billion by 2017. America is the major market for breast imaging equipments followed by Europe and they have been driving the market significantly owing to rising number of breast cancer cases across the developed economies. Emerging economies such as Asia-pacific and Middle-East are the future drivers of breast imaging market. However, one major downside to the newer modalities is their cost in comparison with conventional breast imaging. This, too, will likely improve as the technology becomes more available and reimbursements increase.
Kkey players profiled in the report are Hologic Inc., Aurora Imaging Technology, Imaging Diagnostic Systems Inc., Naviscan PET Systems Inc., GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, Koning Corporation, Philips Research, U-Systems Inc., Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc., Dune Medical Technologies, Dilon Diagnostics, Planmeca GmbH, Gamma Medica Inc and AGFA Healthcare.
Source: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/
