Market Analysis: PET

PET

by John Wallace

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a specialized radiology procedure used to examine various body tissues to identify certain conditions, according to the John Hopkins Medicine website.

“PET may also be used to follow the progress of the treatment of certain conditions,” according to the website.

PET is a type of nuclear medicine procedure. This means that a tiny amount of a radioactive substance is used during the procedure to help with the examination.

“Specifically, PET studies evaluate the metabolism of a particular organ or tissue, so that information about the physiology (functionality) and anatomy (structure) of the organ or tissue is evaluated, as well as its biochemical properties,” according to the website. “Thus, PET may detect biochemical changes in an organ or tissue that can identify the onset of a disease process before anatomical changes related to the disease can be seen with other imaging processes, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).”

PET is most often used by oncologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, and cardiologists. However, as technological advances continue, the procedure is beginning to be used more in other areas.

The medical imaging device industry in constantly evolving.

Demographics, such as an aging population pool, constitute a key factor in bolstering market growth, but manufacturers are faced with the prospect of providing innovative and patient-friendly solutions that support enhanced safety and ease of operation.

Global trends have suggested a marked shift from the saturated North American and European markets to the more lucrative regions constituting the emerging economies of Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Europe, according to a news release by Reportlinker.com.

Read the full article on the March 2014 issue of Medial Dealer Magazine