The Nuclear imaging procedure is a non-invasive medical test that supports physicians in diagnosing the medical conditions of the patients. Nuclear imaging utilizes the radioisotopes injected, inhaled, or swallowed to generate images that showcase how organs and tissue’s function. The radiation produced by the radioisotope is used for cancer diagnosis, organ disorder evaluation, and investigation the blood circulation. PET imaging helps in identifying active vascular macrocalcification in atherosclerosis cases, by utilizing 18F-sodium fluoride radioactive element.
Under the type segment, the nuclear imaging equipment industry is divided into Hybrid PET, SPECT, and Planar Scintigraphy. SPECT holds a significant share of the nuclear imaging equipment sector. SPECT scan is utilized for the detection of blood flow in veins and arteries. It is highly sensitive to brain injury compared to CT scans and MRI. SPECT scan is performed by injecting a tracer into the body that facilitates producing a picture of the heart for proper blood flow detection.
Under the application segment, the global nuclear imaging equipment industry is divided into cardiology, oncology, neurology, and others. Oncology holds an extensive share of the industry. Under the end-user segment, the industry is divided into research institutes, hospitals, diagnostic centers, and others. Hospitals capture the largest share of the sales of nuclear imaging equipment.
The growing prevalence of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and rising elderly population, and surging healthcare expenditure boost the industry growth. Besides this, the product launches by companies to stay on the competitive edge and increase the consumer base also cause industry propulsion.
It is projected that the population aging above 60 years will be around 437 million in China, 107 million in the U.S., and 324 million in India by 2050. The elderly population is more prone to heart diseases; therefore, it is likely to cause a boom in the industry with the growing demand for nuclear imaging equipment.
The rising incidences of cancer and the increasing elderly population contribute to the expansion of the nuclear imaging sector. According to IARC, there will be around 21.4 million cancer patients in 2030. Moreover, the rise in the population undergoing cancer detection tests and cancer screening proliferates the industry.
Nuclear medicine imaging evaluates how organs inside the body function, while other imaging methods only assess the picture of the anatomy. The knowledge of the functioning of an organ provides support to physicians in the diagnosis and planning of the treatments.
The nuclear medicine scans facilitate crucial information that cannot be assessed by other types of testing. It also enhances the quality of the diagnosis and treatment provided to patients. It helps in the discovery of illnesses at the earliest stages.
The major companies operating in the nuclear imaging industry are Siemens AG, Philips Healthcare, Cannon Inc., CMR Naviscan Corporation, Mediso Medical Imaging Systems Ltd., SurgicEye GmbH, DDD Diagnostics, and Neusoft Medical Systems Co.
Therefore, the prevalence of cancer and the rising elderly population leads to the surging demand for the nuclear imaging equipment.