Rising Demand for PET Imaging Challenges U.S. Healthcare Capacity
Surge in Demand for PET Imaging Services
PET procedure volumes experienced an impressive 12.2% rise in 2024 compared to the previous year. This increase, reported by IMV's recently released 2025 PET Market Summary Report, is indicative of an escalating demand for molecular imaging services, which in turn is straining the current imaging infrastructure.
Utilization of Current Facilities
As procedure volumes surged, the average number of scans per fixed PET/CT system also increased by 8.2%. This suggests that many facilities are working efficiently with their existing equipment to accommodate the heightened demand. Davin Korstjens, Director of Market Intelligence at IMV Medical Information Division, noted that the uptick in both overall volume and per-system utilization demonstrates the effectiveness of current systems. However, this also points to the necessity for facilities to evaluate their future imaging capacities.
Physician Workload Variability
The report highlights considerable variability in the workload faced by physicians at different facilities with fixed PET/CT systems. On average, physicians read approximately 336 PET scans per year at each site. However, this figure varies significantly: hospitals with fewer than 200 beds average only 119 scans per physician, whereas hospitals with more than 400 beds report an average of 567 scans per physician annually.
Modalities and Interpretation of Scans
General radiologists are responsible for reading PET scans at 69% of the surveyed sites, followed by nuclear medicine specialists at 51%, and cardiologists/nuclear cardiologists at 11%. The leading referring specialists include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and pulmonologists, underscoring the critical role of PET scans in the oncology field.
Increasing Wait Times
The surge in demand has led to longer wait times, with 40% of the sites reporting waits of eight days or more for non-emergency outpatient PET scans. This figure has remained consistent year-over-year but has more than doubled since 2019, indicating a concerning trend in access to imaging services. The increasing scan volumes coupled with elevated system utilization raise alarms about the sustainability of current resources.
The Future of PET Imaging Capacity
Korstjens remarked on the implications of the rising wait times and utilization rates, suggesting that facilities will need to consider expanding their PET imaging capacity to meet the growing demand. IMV's 2025 PET Market Summary Report provides comprehensive insights into the current landscape of PET imaging in the U.S. It encompasses details about procedure volumes, installed equipment, service providers, purchasing strategies, and operational practices at various facilities.
The report is based on feedback collected from 509 radiology professionals between February 2024 and January 2025. It offers insights into key vendors such as Bracco, Canon, Cardinal Health, GE HealthCare, Jubilant/Draximage/Triad Isotopes, PharmaLogic, Philips, Siemens, SOFIE/IBA/Eastern Isotopes, and United Imaging, highlighting the dynamic ecosystem surrounding PET imaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is driving the increase in PET imaging demand?
The increase is primarily due to growing needs for molecular imaging services, leading to a higher volume of PET procedures performed.
How has the average utilization of PET/CT systems changed?
The average number of scans per installed fixed PET/CT system has risen by 8.2%, indicating better usage of existing capacity.
Are wait times for PET scans increasing?
Yes, around 40% of sites report wait times of eight days or more for outpatient PET scans, which have doubled since 2019.
What specialties are involved in interpreting PET scans?
General radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, and cardiologists/nuclear cardiologists interpret PET scans, with oncologists being key referrers.
What insights does the 2025 PET Market Summary Report provide?
The report offers a thorough overview of procedure volumes, installed equipment bases, service providers, purchase plans, and insights from industry professionals.
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