Des Plaines, Ill., December 12, 2005 - According to a recent study published by IMV Medical Information Division, an estimated 19.3 million procedures were performed using radiography fluoroscopy (RF) imaging equipment in hospitals with 150 beds or more in the U.S. in 2004. These 19.3 million procedures are estimated to have involved 12.4 million patient visits. Of these patient visits, 31 percent were for general radiography studies and 69 percent were for RF procedures.

Of the 8.5 million patient visits for RF procedures in 2004, 55 percent were for GI contrast studies. The next largest segments were urinary studies at 14 percent, myelography at 10 percent, arthrograms/orthopedic/joint studies at 7 percent, and ERCP studies at 7 percent. Other RF patient visits that comprise the remaining 7 percent include OB/GYN studies, peripheral vascular studies, vertebroplasties and biopsies.

"GI contrast studies as a proportion of total RF studies have declined from 62 percent in 2002 to 55 percent in 2004. Meanwhile, urinary studies have increased from 9 percent to 14 percent of the total," observed Lorna Young, senior director of market research. "The apparent decline in the proportion of GI contrast studies may be due to a shifting of such procedures to CT scanning. However, we observe the overall volume of RF and GI studies to be growing."
The 2004/05 edition of Radiographic Fluoroscopy Census Database provides comprehensive profiles of over 1,600 sites in the target universe of hospitals with over 150 beds having RF equipment in radiology, where at least 50 percent of the department's procedures are non-vascular RF procedures. The database can be licensed by qualified subscribers and includes contact and site-specific information regarding RF procedures performed by type, RF imaging equipment installed base by equipment type and manufacturer, PACS and RIS use, planned equipment purchases, film budgets, and contrast agent budgets & utilization. Applications of the database include market development, target marketing, lead generation, installed base marketing programs, sales territory deployment, provider consultation and market/competitive analysis.

IMV's 2004/05 Radiography Fluoroscopy Market Summary Report provides an analysis of the RF market, illustrating market insights that are valuable for business planning, market assessments and sales strategy. The report compares nationwide trends from this recent census with the three prior radiography fluoroscopy census surveys that IMV has conducted since 1998. For more information about the Radiographic Fluoroscopy Census Database and Market Summary Report, visit www.imvlimited.com or call 847-297-1404 to speak with a representative.


IMV Medical Information Division, Inc. is a marketing research and consulting firm founded in 1977 specializing in medical imaging and other advanced healthcare technology markets. IMV's proprietary marketing consulting services, in combination with its census databases of U.S. imaging sites with selected modalities, provide vendors valuable assistance in strategic planning, customer satisfaction, product development and sales initiatives. Current census databases include echocardiography, PET, radiation oncology, X-ray/DR/CR and RIS/PACS.

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