The trend of MRI and ultrasound being used together for more effective diagnosis is cited as a major reason for growth in sales of both modalities, according to a recent report from healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information.
In the report, “Medical Imaging Markets: MRI and Ultrasound,” the firm notes that worldwide revenues for MRI and ultrasound systems grew at 6 percent and 4 percent respectively between 2010 and 2011.
One example of combination usage is in rotator cuff tears. While ultrasound is usually viewed as more cost effective, MRI is most often used to evaluate the rotator cuff. When performing a cost utility analysis, utilizing ultrasound as the initial medical imaging test for a rotator cuff tear, along with a pre-operative MRI to identify alternative and concurrent diagnoses, can be a very effective hybrid imaging strategy.
"Ultrasound is a cheaper imaging modality, yet MRI can provide more depth," said Joe Constance, Kalorama's imaging analyst and the author of the report, in a press release. "So it's not a surprise to see ultrasound recommended for the initial medical imaging test and an MRI as a secondary test to find any alternate diagnosis and give the surgeon the needed anatomy."
New research may find new combination uses, says Kalorama. An experimental procedure developed by scientists at UCLA fuses MRI with real-time 3D ultrasound to obtain biopsy specimens from suspicious areas in the prostate. Patients first received MRI scans of the prostate that assessed three components in detecting cancer: suspicious contrasts in tissue, abnormal cellular density and unusual blood flow within the prostate.
Other trends driving revenues include the aging population, increased efficacy and new higher-priced systems.