In 1999, GE, Siemens and Philips were producing dedicated PET scanners. The first reimbursement was implemented and sales of dedicated PET scanners for clinical applications began to grow. By 2000 reimbursement is expanded and PET scanner sales increase. In mid-year 2001 Siemens introduces the hybrid PET/CT. GE soon follows, with Philips a year later.

Those with dedicated PET scanners that are a year or two old are encouraged by the equipment vendors to replace them and trade up to PET/CT. By 2004 GE and Siemens stop producing and selling dedicated PET in favor of hybrid PET/CT scanners. Then they increase the capability of the hybrid PET/CT scanner by replacing the single-slice CT with 4-, 8-, 16-, 32- or 64-slice CT scanners. By 2006 sales have flattened for all of the companies.


PET's life-cycle was in its infancy in 2000 and six years later it's mature. Usually a medical device life-cycle will last seven years or more. In six years the manufacturers moved quickly through three life cycles.
- Life Cycle #1 The PET Only Scanner
- Life Cycle #2 The Hybrid PET/Single slice CT
- Life Cycle #3 The Hybrid PET/Multi-slice CT
Manufacturers usually wish to stretch the life cycle. The longer the life cycle the better the return on investment. When there is a replacement for the current technology in the wings, then manufacturers will do all they can to place as many units in the field as possible.


IF PET'S FATE IS SEALED, WHAT'S NEXT?

The answer is SPECT/CT.

Let's briefly consider the issues driving this process:
- PET is limited by the availability of radiopharmaceuticals.
- PET is used primarily as a qualitative imaging device.
- SPECT is a nuclear imaging device that is installed everywhere.
- SPECT fits the Nuclear Medicine business model.
- SPECT uses radiopharmaceuticals with longer half-lives.

Large manufacturers of radiopharmaceuticals can participate and support the market with product, distribution, education and regulatory.

SPECT is a qualitative imaging technique that can make use of existing and newly developed SPECT radiopharmaceuticals to produce similar clinical results to qualitative PET.

SPECT/CT was introduced several years ago and it continues to be developed and improved. Each year more sophisticated CTs are added.

GE, Siemens and Philips all have a SPECT/CT scanner on the market.

Radiopharmaceutical companies are investigating and developing single photon consumables. These are intended to replace and provide similar capability to PET/CT.

Within the next 60 months, PET and PET/CT will be replaced in almost all clinical applications by SPECT/CT. With all of the limitations placed upon PET by nature and marketplace decisions can there be any other answer?

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