The global SPECT market is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2021, growing at an annual rate of 5 percent, according to a new market report from Technavio.

Cardiac SPECT scans, used to detect coronary artery diseases, percutaneous coronary intervention and other cardiac abnormalities, represented the largest segment last year, comprising 35 percent of the market. These exams are in high demand due, in part, to increasing rates of alcohol consumption and hypertension.

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization, but many of them can be prevented by addressing lifestyle habits including tobacco use and unhealthy diets.
In recent years, technological advancements have been made that generate faster SPECT scan results, greater sensitivity, better image quality and reduce motion artifacts.



Oncology is the second largest segment with a 31 percent market share. SPECT exams can be used to detect lung, breast, bowel and prostate cancer, which have become more prevalent.

There were an estimated 14.1 million cancer cases around the world in 2012, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. Lung cancer was the most common, followed by breast and colorectal cancers.

SPECT imaging is more valuable for oncology applications than other imaging techniques because it can provide information at the molecular level, according to the report. GE Healthcare's multi-slice integrated SPECT/CT is a popular choice for this segment.

The general imaging segment accounts for 30 percent of the market. One of the most widely adopted applications in this segment is imaging breast tissue.

SPECT imaging offers detail that mammography and ultrasound cannot, according to the report. GE is the leader in this segment, followed by Siemens Healthineers and Philips Healthcare.

The neurology segment is very small, accounting for 4 percent market share. PET imaging is widely used to evaluate neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, epileptic syndromes, schizophrenia and Huntington's disease, according to a Technavio report from July.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 5.3 million people were suffering with Alzheimer's in 2015. FDG-PET imaging can detect a decrease in glucose in the brain, which is a sign of the disease.

Back to HCB News

Cardiology Homepage