Integration of AI in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis to Augment Growth of Breast Imaging Market

 

In medical science, breast imaging has become a sub-specialty of diagnostic radiology which involves imaging of breasts for diagnostic or screening purposes. There are several different types of breast ultrasound using different technologies. The most common types of imaging procedures include radiography, mammography, and ultrasonography.

Market Dynamics

Increasing prevalence of breast cancer is expected to propel growth of the global breast imaging market. For instance, according to the American Cancer Society, in 2020, around 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women and the disease will lead to around 42,170 deaths, in the U.S. Moreover, increasing adoption of breast augmentation is also expected to aid in growth of the market. For instance, according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2018, breast augmentation topped the list of cosmetic surgical procedures in the U.S. with 313,735 procedures.

Increasing funding in R&D of breast cancer is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for players in the global breast imaging market. For instance, in October 2019, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation announced its US$ 66 million commitment to fund breast cancer research for 2019-2020.

Among regions, Latin America is expected to witness significant growth in the breast imaging market, owing to significant growth in the medical tourism sector. For instance, according to Tourism of the Federal District, Mexico City, in 2018, Tijuana received 1.7 million patients and companions from the U.S. and Canada generating a revenue of US$ 600 million.    

Among the types of imaging, digital breast tomosynthesis is expected to witness significant demand. For instance, in July 2019, SimonMed Imaging, an outpatient medical imaging provider, implemented ProFound AI for digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), the first FDA-cleared AI program for early breast cancer detection developed by iCAD, Inc. Moreover, 2D and 3D mammography is also witnessing significant demand, owing to integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the technology. For instance, in March 2020, the U.S. FDA approved ScreenPoint Medical’s Transpara 1.6.0, the first breast AI solution for both 2D and 3D mammography in the U.S.

Competitive Analysis

Major players operating in the global breast imaging market include, Hologic, Inc., General Electric Company, Siemens AG, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Gamma Medica, Inc., Toshiba Corporation, Sonocine, Inc., Aurora Imaging Technology, Inc., Paragon Biosciences LLC, and Dilon Technologies, Inc.

July 2019: Paragon Biosciences LLC launched its seventh portfolio company, Qlarity Imaging LLC, which is expected to develop QuantX, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared CAD diagnosis system for breast cancer.