Nuclear medicine market driven by the introduction of hybrid units such as PET/CT and PET/MR

The global nuclear medicine market has been forecast to hit a value of US$2.46 billion by 2018, with the industry set to be primarily driven by factors including the rising incidence of neurological and cardiac diseases worldwide, continued technological enhancements in nuclear medicine imaging equipment, the growing popularity of hybrid technologies, and widening applications of nuclear medicine encompassing a range of clinical procedures.

Nuclear medicine encompasses therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, which are economical, safe and painless techniques. The technology provides functional as well as anatomical information, and is found highly beneficial in diagnosis of organ function abnormalities, cancerous growths, cardiac diseases, neurological disorders, blood flow blockages, and dysfunction of any major organ.

Despite a decline in sales volume and the reduced demand in the aftermath of the global economic recession, the industry has "recovered well," with the introduction of hybrid units, such as PET/CT and PET/MRI, acting as a predominant contributor to market growth.

This has fuelled a strong demand for technically advanced medical and diagnostic imaging devices, capable of providing accurate and detailed diagnoses, which can allow earlier, and potentially life-saving, medical intervention.

Developed nuclear medicine markets such as the US and UK are highly saturated and the focus is likely to be towards upgrading stand-alone PET and SPECT system with fully integrated hybrid units, that offer a high level of anatomical and functional detail.

On the other hand, emerging countries such as China and India will offer more opportunity, due a lack of nuclear medicine facilities and technologies, and increased healthcare spending.

The drive to provide patients with diagnostic imaging systems options that are more accurate, comfortable and future-proof will sustain growth in the nuclear medicine market through to 2018.

For more information on the nuclear medicine market, see the latest research: Nuclear Medicine Market

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