Title: Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Market: Key Trends & Future Prospects
1Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Market Key Trends
Future Prospects Contrast enhanced ultrasound
(CEUS) entails the application of ultrasound
contrast medium to conventional medical
sonography. According to Inkwood Research, the
global contrast enhanced ultrasound market is
projected to rise with a CAGR of 5.25 during the
forecast period of 2022 to 2030. The market
growth is attributable to key factors such as the
surging prevalence of chronic diseases as well as
the technological advancements in
diagnosis. Ultrasound contrast agents primarily
depend on the different ways in which sound waves
are reflected between substances from interfaces.
This may either be the surface of a small air
bubble or a more multifaceted and complex
structure. Over recent years, the increasing use
of contrast enhanced ultrasound, and its
extensive use in clinical practice has proven to
be a significant breakthrough in the field of
diagnostic ultrasound. In this regard, CEUS is
used to depict the targeted organs micro- and
macro-circulation, subsequently resulting in
enhanced performance and accuracy in analysis.
Moreover, healthcare providers may also use
contrast enhanced ultrasound in addition to or
instead of other medical imaging tests, such as
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed
tomography (CT) scans.
- Diagnostic Use of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound
- Liver Imaging
- Owing to the unique dual blood supply system in
the liver, contrast enhanced ultrasound is
predominantly suitable for liver imaging. CEUS
facilitates the characterization of focal liver
lesions
2- (FLLs), guidance for interventional procedures,
detection of liver malignancy, and assessment of
treatment response following local therapies. - In patients with known cancerous conditions,
including high and low malignancy, further
investigations are often required to definitely
exclude malignancy. Moreover, the response
evaluation is a novel challenge, with a research
focus on the variation in tumor vasculature as
well as perfusion. CEUS can identify viable and
necrotic areas of tumors, thus enhancing
diagnostic accuracy, especially while planning
biopsies. - Key companies operating in the contrast enhanced
ultrasound market are also enhancing their
presence in the avenue of liver imaging through
frequent launches of products with upgraded
functions. For example, Acuson Juniper 2.02 by
Siemens Healthineers AG is an ultrasound system
equipped with liver elastography and contrast
enhanced ultrasound that plays a pivotal role in
delivering a comprehensive liver evaluation. - Non-Liver Use
- While the advent of CEUS improves the use of
ultrasound in the liver for tumor diagnosis and
guidance, it also offers solutions in numerous
non-liver organs, such as the kidneys, pancreas,
gallbladder, heart, and spleen. Furthermore,
contrast enhanced ultrasounds use has also
expanded to the bile duct in recent years, with
promising results. Aligning with this, CEUS is
particularly useful in the diagnosis of bile duct
malignancy, including intrahepatic, hilar, as
well as extrahepatic bile ducts. - Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in Drug
Gene Delivery Key Trend - In addition to diagnostic applications, contrast
enhanced ultrasound imaging is presently being
explored for therapeutic purposes such as
targeted drug delivery into thrombi and arterial
walls. One studied application for targeted drug
therapy entails chemotherapeutic drug delivery.
In theory, it must focus on drug exposure to the
local tumor and restrict exposure of healthy
tissue to the toxic drugs, thus minimizing
detrimental side effects. - Microbubbles comprising common anticancer drugs
in the hydrophilic core circulate into the
microvasculature of the tumor. At that point,
ultrasound pulses are used to burst them,
releasing the drug and also inducing
sonoporation. As a result, subsequent tumor cell
death has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro
as well. - Microbubbles can also be used for targeted gene
delivery. For instance, the bubbles may be filled
with small interfering RNA, which can
downregulate transcription factors for cell
proliferation. These include activators of
transcription 3 and signal transducer, resulting
in decreasing tumor burden. - On the other hand, microbubbles are being studied
for the augmentation of sonothrombolysis.
Characterized as a relatively non-invasive method
of dissolving thrombus, it helps restore blood
flow through the use of ultrasound energy. - Contribution of Leading Players
- NanoPET Pharma GmbH Viscover PolySon H/L are
hard-shell ultrasound microbubbles optimized for
organ perfusion measurements as well as the
visualization of the liver and spleen. Moreover,
based on inducible bubble rupture, they are also
suited for stimulated acoustic emission imaging
(SAE).
3- Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc DEFINITY is an
injectable cardiovascular ultrasound enhancement
agent utilized in contrast enhanced ultrasound
imaging. It is composed of lipid-coated echogenic
microbubbles with octa-fluoro propane gas.
Administering DEFINITY improves clinicians view
of the hearts left ventricle during an
echocardiogram in order to aid diagnosis. - Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Market
Future Prospects - In various developed as well as developing
nations, ambulatory diagnostic centers are an
emerging trend in terms of the provision of
medical imaging services. On account of its key
advantages, such as affordability, diagnostic
effectiveness, portability, and wider clinical
use, ultrasound is one of the chief tools used in
conjunction with mobile units. Accordingly, the
ambulatory diagnostic centers segment, under the
end-user category, is expected to grow with the
highest CAGR of 6.66 during the forecast period. - Since ultrasound contrast agents (UCA) can be
used as a tracer of blood flow, CEUS can help
detect hematomas and bleeding sites in patients
with abdominal injuries, thus surging their
applications in the field of blunt abdominal
trauma. Deemed useful for monitoring patients
undergoing conservative treatment, the technique
can also assess vascular lesions and active
bleeding, while avoiding exposure to ionizing
radiation. - The advent of contrast enhanced ultrasound has
significantly improved the expediency of
ultrasound, and even elevated its position in
clinical practice. As research and development
continue to progress in CEUS, new emerging
technological advancements will further pave the
way for more economic, reliable, and safe
diagnoses of various diseases. Consequently, this
factor is set to play an integral role in fueling
the global contrast enhanced ultrasound market
growth during the forecast period. - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is a contrast agent?
- A A contrast agent is characterized as a
substance used to intensify the contrast of
fluids or structures within the body in medical
imaging. - What are the two main types of contrast enhanced
ultrasound analyzed in the report? A Targeted
and non-targeted are the two main types of
contrast enhanced ultrasound analyzed in the
report. - What is the main advantage of microbubbles?
- A Microbubbles are presently the only clinically
approved ultrasound contrast agent. Their key
advantage is that they remain intravascular owing
to their size, thus facilitating diagnostic
measurements that would otherwise be challenging
with diffusible tracers.