The global breast ultrasound market is projected to reach $1.71 billion by 2023, according to Global Breast Ultrasound Market, Forecast to 2023, a report by research firm Frost & Sullivan.

Valued currently at $1.11 billion, use of novel techniques by vendors, combined with machine learning and deep learning algorithms for high-quality imaging and capabilities, such as cloud and data analytics, are expected to be the main drivers of growth, along with proactive introduction of applications and value-based equipment by vendors based on regional needs.

"Traditional breast ultrasound generally faces issues in terms of longer examination times (more than 30 minutes) and sonographer error depending on the characteristic of breast tissues, which necessitates repeat scan," Poornima Srinivasan, industry analyst, transformational health at Frost & Sullivan, told HCB News. "In this context, automated breast ultrasound offers value in terms of lesser time of less than five minutes and helps eliminate operator/sonographer error as the ultrasound probe placement and movement on the breast are standardized."

Innovations like miniaturization, noninvasiveness, higher affordability and painless diagnosis are expected to further boost the use of ultrasound scanners.

Vendors seeking to benefit from this rise in the market are advised in the report to demonstrate evidence-based benefits such as cost efficiency, improved clinical outcomes and time efficiency of their solutions, as well as adopt targeted approaches that increase procedural volume in breast screening programs such as ABUS, which takes less than 20 minutes for scanning.

Additional tasks that help include realigning care models, focusing on automation and wireless, and expanding new clinical areas such as optical ultrasound; improving the value proposition across clinical and financial stakeholders and providing value for better managed equipment services, training, and technical upgrades; and offering usage-based, service-oriented delivery models in developing economies.

Srinivasan says that Asia-Pacific countries such as China and Japan offer opportunities for ultrasound as a primary diagnostic tool, and that new business models focused on operational efficiency and training will help to increase its use in developed nations, particularly with AI applications and manufacturers' provision of ultraportable systems.

"While conventional breast ultrasound is used across healthcare facilities, automated breast ultrasound is widely used in university hospitals and private medical diagnostic imaging centers," she said.

Global breast ultrasound is not the only market expected to grow in this same period of time. The $4.50 billion U.S. and EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) hospital OR products and solutions market is expected to reach $7.04 billion by 2022, according to another recent Frost & Sullivan Analysis.

Shipment of breast ultrasound systems to North American customers accrued 42.7 percent of the revenue of the total market in 2018.

The report is part of Frost & Sullivan's global Advanced Medical Technologies Growth Partnership Service program.

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