Elastography Imaging Market

Elastography Imaging Market Size

The global elastography imaging market generated notable revenues in 2024 and is projected to grow at a decent CAGR during 2025 - 2034, owing to the rising prevalence of chronic illness globally, specifically liver diseases, and cancers. As per the American Cancer Society, in April 2024, approximately 20 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2022, with 9.7 million deaths, and the number of cancer cases is expected to reach 35 million by 2050.

These diseases require accurate and timely diagnosis to manage advanced care. Elastography imaging provides a non-invasive technique to measure tissue stiffness, finding significant use in the early detection, ongoing treatment, and management of liver with liver fibrosis, cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders. The market is also benefiting from the trend towards non-invasive diagnostic tests in medical imaging.

Technical advancements in elastography imaging tools, such as magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and portable elastography systems, have broadened diagnostic tools available to healthcare and optimized diagnostic potential for healthcare professionals. The tools hold the prospect of improved resolution, quicker scans, and the ability to measure tissue stiffness with a non-invasive approach across the primary organs of the human body. Significant factors contributing to growth in the market are rising emphasis on preventative care, increasing incorporation of elastography imaging within clinical practices, and expanding healthcare infrastructure in developing countries.

Elastography Imaging Market Trends

The elastography imaging industry is being influenced by various trends, which are affecting its growth trajectory. One of the major trends in elastography imaging is the increasing incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in elastography systems. AI-based elastography systems can analyze large amounts of imaging data promptly, resulting in an accurate assessment of tissue stiffness with very low chances of human error. The integration of AI and ML into elastography imaging systems is improving and increasing the speed, precision, and reliability of elastography systems, causing elastography systems to be used at higher levels across health care environments.

In addition, there has been an increased need for non-invasive diagnostics in health care, especially in liver disease. Liver disease is increasingly burdening populations across the globe, and emphasis for development is being placed on non-invasive alternatives to traditional biopsy methods. For example, elastography can be used for assessing liver stiffness, which is a relatively less painful and safer method of diagnostic inspection than traditional biopsy. In addition, the demand for elastography to find cancer is expanding, especially for cases involving primarily solid tumors, since they also show alterations in tissue stiffness.

There are also portable elastography devices on the market and are becoming more utilized because of their functional and convenience. Rapidly advancing mobile technology has allowed portable elastography systems to become smaller, less expensive, and more achievable to implement; they are a desirable choice at the point of care or for telehealth situations. Furthermore, a growing trend in the healthcare sector is a shift away from traditional care and towards a more decentralized patient-based care delivery model.

Elastography Imaging Market Analysis

The magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) segment held the largest share in 2024 as it offers accuracy in a non-invasive manner, particularly when measuring tissue stiffness. In MRE, a mechanical wave is imparted into the body and shows the way tissue interacts with this wave using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques. This assessment is highly valuable in assessing liver stiffness, which indicates cirrhosis and fibrosis, and has been largely accepted as a useful alternative to liver biopsy. The strong growth in the MRE segment is mainly being driven by demand for digitization of imaging systems, which account for quicker and earlier stage detection of the disease process, which is particularly useful in liver disorders. MRE can provide high-quality images and is becoming increasingly needed due to earlier detection of abnormalities, providing opportunities for diagnosis.

The portable elastography segment is poised for significant growth by 2034, driven by the increasing need for portable diagnostic modalities for remote and point-of-care applications. Portable elastography devices are convenient, versatile, and provide quick results, making them suitable for healthcare providers in regions lacking traditional healthcare facilities. Portable elastography imaging devices allow healthcare providers to perform quick and non-invasive testing at the point of care, which can be at clinics, emergency departments, or even at home. Where conditions like liver diseases and musculoskeletal disorders require timely diagnosis, portable elastography systems play an important role. The continued development of new compact and simple-to-use elastography systems, which can be utilized by non-experts, is also helping drive market growth for portable elastography devices.

North America elastography imaging market generated notable revenues in 2024, attributed to a well-established healthcare system, high healthcare expenditure, and increasing uptake of advanced and new diagnostic techniques. The United States specifically acts as a major driver in global elastography imaging usage due to the significant levels of chronic disease, including liver disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal disease, in the United States population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that liver disease is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. Software systems that provide advanced diagnostic tools, including elastography imaging, will be critical and play an important role within North American diagnostics.

Additionally, the increased awareness of non-invasive diagnostic solutions, along with the increasing number of hospitals and diagnostic centers adopting elastography imaging technologies, both continue to help propel market growth. MRE has a tremendous market presence in liver disease diagnosis, and the increased interest in portable elastography devices for patient visits in hospitals and diagnostic centers, along with remote care, is all anticipated to continue fueling market growth. Further investment in healthcare R&D and innovation from public and private sources will continue to fast-track elastography systems in the North American region.

Elastography Imaging Market Share

Key players operating in the elastography imaging industry include:

• Siemens
• Fujifilm Holdings
• G.E. Healthcare
• Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics
• Hitachi Medical Systems (FujiFilm Healthcare Americas Corporation)
• Canon Medical Systems
• Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Samsung
• Esaote SpA
  

To strengthen their market position, key players with strong market presence in the elastography imaging industry are planning several approaches. Some of the approaches include developing advanced elastography systems that utilize advanced features such as AI, improved image resolution, and portability. Companies are allocating a significant amount of resources in research and development to create innovative devices to enhance patient diagnostic accuracy while making the systems more cost and clinically available. Another strategy is to extend their offering into a more varied market segment, such as liver diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and cancer, to expand their elastography imaging practice.

Companies are continuously exploring collaborations with healthcare institutions and academic institutions to include elastography imaging in clinical settings to evolve its application range. Another strategy by elastography market leaders is to expand into emerging markets where there is a greater interest in advanced imaging solutions. Offering affordable portable elastography devices and building distribution agreements takes advantage of increasing health system investments in infrastructure in growing markets. In addition, elastography market players are collaborating and merging with others in the diagnostic technology market to add to product portfolios and access additional customer segments, ultimately enhancing their competitive position in the marketplace.

Elastography Imaging Industry News

• In April 2024, Healthcare technology company Royal Philips launched the Elevate Platform upgrade for its EPIQ Elite ultrasound system. The upgrade featured proactive system monitoring, enabling care teams to consult remotely, assist with diagnoses from a distance, and troubleshoot systems without needing on-site intervention. Additionally, the platform introduced Auto ElastQ for liver elastography, offering a non-invasive approach to measuring liver stiffness.