Market Overview

The global nuclear imaging market was valued at USD 6,707.75 million in 2018, and is estimated to be valued at USD 9,255.41 million in 2024, witnessing a CAGR of 5.51%. Certain factors that are propelling the growth of the market include the technological advancements, increasing diagnostic applications in various diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, government support, and shift from standalone to hybrid modalities.

The technological advancements in the field of imaging have always been challenging to practitioners in how best to optimize them in patient care. Over recent years, scientists, researchers, and technologists have been able to bring systems in clinical practice, in which two or even more than two standalone diagnostic imaging modalities are combined. Some of those multimodality imaging systems include PET/CT, SPECT/CT, PET/MRI, and PET/SPECT/CT.

Moreover, the rise in the prevalence of cancer and cardiac ailments is one of the primary drivers for the market. Nuclear medicine is hugely capable of treating cancer and cardiac diseases. There is significant evidence, which proves that diagnosing with nuclear imaging techniques has more impact on patient management for monitoring tumor and also its response to the drug.

However, the field of nuclear imaging is currently observing a shortage of the radionuclide Tc99m (technetium 99), which is the most commonly used isotope for imaging the body in nuclear medicine scans. This worldwide shortage of radioisotope will impact a majority of diagnostic scans done in the nuclear medicine clinic.

Scope of the Report

Nuclear medicine imaging procedures are non-invasive, with the exception of intravenous injections, and are usually painless medical tests that help physicians diagnose and evaluate medical conditions. These imaging scans use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers. These radiopharmaceuticals are used in diagnosis and therapeutics. They are small substances that contain a radioactive substance that is used in the treatment of cancer, cardiac and neurological disorders.

Key Market Trends

Oncology is Expected to hold its Highest Market Share in PET Applications

In the PET Applications segment, oncology is expected to have the largest market size and is expected to witness a CAGR of 6.35% during the forecast period.

The prevalence of various types of cancer has shown a significant rise over the past two decades. According to the statistics of Lymphoma Research Foundation, each year, more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with lymphoma, and nearly one million people in the United States are living with, or are in remission from, lymphoma. It is the third-most common cancer in children. According to the Global Burden of Disease – 2013 study, 725,000 people had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and 24,000 died due to this, in 2013. 2.96 million people had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and 226,000 died due to this, in 2013.

The FDG-PET/CT is more sensitive than contrast-enhanced CT scan in the staging of several types of lymphoma or in detecting tumor dissemination in several solid cancers, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer.

In the field of oncology, the PET (positron emission tomography) uses FDG (18Fluorine-2-fluoro-2-Deoxy-d-glucose) as the radiopharmaceutical, as it demonstrates the increased metabolism by malignant cells, when compared to that of normal cells. Furthermore, there is continuous technological progress in the field of image generation. The introduction of sophisticated software to use PET scan as a biomarker has facilitated new ways to calculate new prognostic markers, such as the metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and the total amount of tumor glycolysis (TLG). The 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) has high sensitivity, but it is not tumor specific. This technique can be used for the imaging of lung cancer, lymphoma, head and neck tumors, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, and urinary tract tumors. Hence, all the aforementioned technological advancements are expected to drive growth in this segment of the market studied, over the forecast period.

North America Domainates the Market and is Expected to do the Same in the Forecast Period

North America is projected to account for the largest share of the market, due to the advancements in technology, including hybrid imaging, the introduction of new radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis, and the development of molecular imaging.

In 2016, the AMIPA (American Medical Isotope Production Act) and the DOE/NNSA (Department of Energy) established a Uranium Lease and Take-Back (ULTB) program in the United States. Under this program, the DOE/NNSA makes LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) available through lease contracts for the irradiation and production of Mo99 for medical uses. The AMIPA not only promotes the domestic production of Mo-99, but also aims to replace the role of HEU (High Enriched Uranium) in the production of medical radioactive isotopes.

Moreover, Canada is one of the largest producers of Technetium-99m. With the use of Tc-99m in radiopharmaceuticals, the market is expected to grow at a tremendous rate in Canada. It is also combined with a variety of biologically active molecules to perform non-invasive, real-time imaging of the human body.

Furthermore, there has been increasing awareness among people in this region about nuclear medicine treatment and diagnosis, which, in turn, has increased the prescriptions by physicians. This is expected to trigger the growth of the market.

Competitive Landscape

The nuclear imaging market is highly competitive and consists of a few major players. In terms of market share, few of the major players currently dominate the market. Companies, like Bracco Imaging SpA, Curium, Cardinal Health Inc., Koninklijke Philips NV, GE Healthcare, and Siemens Healthineers, among others, hold the substantial share in the market.

Various developments have recently been taking place in the market, such as, in May 2018, Curium enhanced its position in the French PET market with the acquisition of Cyclopharma’s French commercial and manufacturing operations.

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Deliverables

1.2 Study Assumptions

1.3 Scope of the Study

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4 MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Market Drivers

4.2.1 Rise in Prevalence of Cancer and Cardiac Disorders

4.2.2 Increase in Technological Advancements

4.2.3 Growth in Applications of Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

4.3 Market Restraints

4.3.1 Regulatory Issues

4.3.2 Lack of Reimbursement

4.4 Industry Attractiveness – Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants

4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers

4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products

4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 

5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 By Product

5.1.1 By Equipment

5.1.2 By Radioisotope

5.1.2.1 By Diagnostic Technology

5.1.2.1.1 SPECT Radioisotopes

5.1.2.1.1.1 Technetium-99m (TC-99m)

5.1.2.1.1.2 Thallium-201 (TI-201)

5.1.2.1.1.3 Gallium (Ga-67)

5.1.2.1.1.4 Iodine (I-123)

5.1.2.1.1.5 Other SPECT Radioisotopes

5.1.2.1.2 PET Radioisotopes

5.1.2.1.2.1 Fluorine-18 (F-18)

5.1.2.1.2.2 Rubidium-82 (RB-82)

5.1.2.1.2.3 Other PET Radioisotopes

5.2 By Application

5.2.1 SPECT Applications

5.2.1.1 Cardiology

5.2.1.2 Neurology

5.2.1.3 Thyroid

5.2.1.4 Other SPECT Applications

5.2.2 PET Applications

5.2.2.1 Oncology

5.2.2.2 Cardiology

5.2.2.3 Neurology

5.2.2.4 Other PET Applications

5.3 Geography

5.3.1 North America

5.3.1.1 United States

5.3.1.2 Canada

5.3.1.3 Mexico

5.3.2 Europe

5.3.2.1 Germany

5.3.2.2 United Kingdom

5.3.2.3 France

5.3.2.4 Italy

5.3.2.5 Spain

5.3.2.6 Rest of Europe

5.3.3 Asia-Pacific

5.3.3.1 China

5.3.3.2 Japan

5.3.3.3 India

5.3.3.4 Australia

5.3.3.5 South Korea

5.3.3.6 Rest of Asia-Pacific

5.3.4 Middle East & Africa

5.3.4.1 GCC

5.3.4.2 South Africa

5.3.4.3 Rest of Middle East & Africa

5.3.5 South America

5.3.5.1 Brazil

5.3.5.2 Argentina

5.3.5.3 Rest of South America

6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Company Profiles

6.1.1 Bracco Imaging SpA

6.1.2 Cardinal Health Inc.

6.1.3 GE Healthcare

6.1.4 Koninklijke Philips NV

6.1.5 Siemens Healthineers

6.1.6 Curium

6.1.7 CMR NAVISCAN (GAMMA MEDICA INC.)

6.1.8 Nordion (Canada) Inc.

6.1.9 NTP Radioisotopes SOC

6.1.10 Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation

7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS

MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Product

By Equipment

By Radioisotope

By Diagnostic Technology

SPECT Radioisotopes

Technetium-99m (TC-99m)

Thallium-201 (TI-201)

Gallium (Ga-67)

Iodine (I-123)

Other SPECT Radioisotopes

PET Radioisotopes

Fluorine-18 (F-18)

Rubidium-82 (RB-82)

Other PET Radioisotopes

By Application

SPECT Applications

Cardiology

Neurology

Thyroid

Other SPECT Applications

PET Applications

Oncology

Cardiology

Neurology

Other PET Applications

Geography

North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

Europe

Germany

United Kingdom

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

Australia

South Korea

Rest of Asia-Pacific

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of South America