ICTpost Radiology Bureau
CT scanners facilitate visualisation, characterisation, and measurement of biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels in humans and other living systems
Imaging techniques like X-rays, MRIs and CT scans provide anatomical (size, shape, structure) info of organs or tissues being investigated- they show how these look. The PET scan is a metabolic imaging modality-it shows what the cells in these organs or tissues are doing. PET Scan imaging technique involves injecting a small amount of radioactive glucose (called a tracer) into the vein of the patient. After an hour, the patient is made to slide through the tunnel-shaped hole in the centre of the PET scanner. The PET machine detects energy given off by the radioactive substance and changes it into 3-D pictures.
The late 70s and early 80s saw entry of first ultrasound and single slice translate-rotate CT scanners in India, suddenly emerging like sphinx and transforming the status of imaging technology from just simple hardware producing flat two dimensional images into orthogonal cross-sectional images of higher special and temporal resolution which revealed much more in terms of human anatomy and offered higher accuracy in diagnosis. This placed the radiologist in the driver’s seat in the clinical world and brought greater respect to him as the one whose acumen was necessary to get the diagnosis in most cases which was based on management of the diseases.
Molecular imaging enables the visualisation of the cellular function and the follow-up of the molecular process in human body without perturbing it. Thus, it was quickly adopted by the medical fraternity, giving a non-invasive method with clarity . This technique helps improve the treatment of diseases such as cancer, neurological and cardiovascular diseases by optimising the pre-clinical and clinical tests of new medication. They are also expected to have a major economic impact due to earlier and more precise diagnosis.
CT scanners facilitate visualisation, characterisation, and measurement of biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels in humans and other living systems. Molecular imaging is a key component of 21st century cancer management. The global efforts for quantitative imaging of tumor can lead to a more robust and effective monitoring of personalised molecular cancer therapy.
Treatment for cancer is traumatic as the disease grows inaccurately and partial diagnosis often leads to more traumas. Molecular Imaging can be very useful not only in oncology but in many more clinical areas.
High end imaging modalities need better image management and archival systems. The diagnostic outcome of molecular imaging is necessary to be made available to clinicians treating the patients. Healthcare IT and molecular imaging go hand in hand. If one wishes to exploit the real advantage of these systems, other should ensure effective distribution of these images to clinicians and integration with electronic medical records.
When a hospital plans to buy a multi-crore, hi-tech equipment, the initial few months of planning are typically spent over the question, “What return on investment (ROI) can we expect?” Most imaging equipments have gone through this phase and have matured in terms of both utility and viability. Molecular Imaging, the latest technology wave in diagnostic imaging is not an exception.
But for a diagnostic consultant return on investment is measured differently. How many times is a life saved due to timely diagnosis? How many times the quality of life has dramatically improved the treatment with accurate predictions and visualisation of the disease? Answers to these questions are the basis for real ROI.
Market
The demand for medical imaging products in the US market was $21.4 billion in 2010. The main causes of this growth are technological advances, along with an ageing population and changing trends in healthcare approaches. New scanners and consumables with expanded testing capabilities are also being adopted widely by hospitals and outpatient facilities to improve quality of care.
Medical imaging equipment has posted demand of over $16 billion in 2010, which is 6.8 percent higher than the annual growth in the last two years. Picking up the biggest pace will be multi-slice CT scanners, due to investment in the systems by hospitals and outpatient facilities replacing older systems. Due to the popularity of new hybrid PET/CT systems, the systems offer dual anatomical and metabolic scanning capabilities.
Other drivers of the demand include the ongoing replacement of conventional analog machines with digital x-ray and radiographic fluoroscopy systems. Faring better will be nuclear medicine and ultrasound equipments. New four-dimensional (4D) imaging systems and new laptop and hand-held devices for point-of-care systems will also abet the overall growth for diagnostic ultrasound equipment.
Worldwide, medical imaging consumables have expanded 3.6 percent annually to $5.3 billion in 2010. Finally, the market for contrast agents have seen the moderate growth in x-ray, CT and MRI studies on body regions where the targeted organ or tissue needs visual enhancement due to its masking by nearby invivo matter. In this product group, nano-sized compounds hold the best growth prospects as they are expected to greatly improve MRI-generated images.
The medical equipment market in India is growing at an annual rate of 15 per cent and is expected to touch $ 4.98 billion by 2012. Indian health imaging market is expected to double from the existing Rs1,575 crore in the next five years. X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI would drive this domain collectively accounting for 68.6 percent of the health imaging market. Teleradiology holds 90 percent of the market share in the country, growing at 50 percent per year. Since the days of X-ray, various technologies have exploded the radiology market. Major evolution has been noticed in the domain of CT, MRI and ultrasound, while digital radiography and teleradiology has given a whole new meaning to diagnosis.
Refurbished Equipments
There is a rampant market for old and refurbished medical devices in India that come quite cheap. The increase in medical procedures has stimulated demand for greater number of imaging equipment in hospitals. Many institutions require a second or third equipment to cope with the increasing demand for low-cost refurbished equipment as they are unable to invest in new equipment due to limited funds. It is estimated that high field machines account for 12 percent share in Indian CT Scanner market. The escalating need to procure high-end but inexpensive medical imaging equipments promises further growth of refurbished medical imaging equipment market. Along with new technology in medical equipment there is an emerging trend of ‘affordable buying’, which is the basis of refurbished medical equipment business. Experts believe that buying refurbished medical equipment does not necessarily means sacrificing on quality. Buying refurbished equipment can save sometimes over 50 per cent of what you would normally pay for brand new equipment.
But, there are some negative impacts of such equipments as well. Buying a discontinued product can be very risky as no parts are manufactured anymore and the customer has to depend on vendor stock or used parts from another seller or manufacturer. The buyer must understand that the most crucial aspect of a refurbished equipment vendor is his track record in the business and the quality of service support.
Future
The future of molecular imaging is very promising and the hospitals and other healthcare providers will need to prepare themselves for this futuristic technology. The investments in infrastructures as well as technology are definitely worth it. PET CT scanners can be immediate actions, as this fusion of molecular imaging has already shown its unprecedented growth in cancer diagnosis and management.
But there should be provisions for expansion of this into a more promising radioimmuno-based imaging and individualised therapies. Setting up small peptide synthesisers and use of positron emitter generators like 82Rb, 68Ga will prove its worth in the next five years. These are modules required for molecular imaging of gastro-neuro-endocrine tumors, cardiac perfusion and metabolic imaging.