Positron Emission Tomography Market Size & Forecast 2025–2033

The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Market is entering an era of accelerated transformation, driven by technological advancements, rising chronic disease burdens, and the global shift toward early and precise diagnostic solutions. According to Renub Research, the market will rise from US$ 1.06 Billion in 2024 to US$ 1.51 Billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.02% during 2025–2033. This steady but consistent expansion highlights PET's central role in modern medicine—especially in oncology, neurology, and cardiology.

As global health systems prioritize early intervention, personalized treatment pathways, and AI-supported imaging workflows, PET remains one of the most indispensable tools for clinicians and researchers worldwide.

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Market Outlook: A Technological Cornerstone in Modern Diagnostics

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) provides unparalleled insights into metabolic processes at the cellular level using radiotracers. Unlike traditional imaging, which focuses on structure, PET reveals function and activity, enabling clinicians to catch disease long before anatomical abnormalities emerge.

The modality is increasingly combined with CT or MRI, producing enhanced 3D images that guide diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment planning. PET is especially vital in:

Oncology: tumor detection, staging, therapy response

Cardiology: myocardial perfusion, blood flow, early coronary disease

Neurology: Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, cognitive decline

Its growing adoption across hospitals, research centers, and imaging facilities reflects a global movement toward sophisticated, biology-driven care.

Key factors supporting this growth include:

A rapidly increasing burden of chronic diseases

Hybrid imaging innovations (PET/CT, PET/MRI)

Expanding radiopharmaceutical development

Precision medicine programs in major healthcare economies

Together, these forces position PET as a critical component of 21st-century medical diagnostics.

Growth Drivers Powering the PET Market

1. Rising Incidence of Chronic Diseases

The global escalation of chronic disorders—especially cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological conditions—is the primary catalyst for PET market expansion.

PET imaging offers unique metabolic detail that no other modality provides, making it essential for early diagnosis and disease management. The urgency is reflected in real-world numbers: as of July 2024, over 35.5 million adults in the United States live with chronic kidney disease, largely driven by diabetes and hypertension. Alarmingly, 9 out of 10 are unaware of their condition, highlighting the need for advanced, early-stage detection technologies like PET.

With cancer cases projected to grow substantially across regions like China, India, and Brazil, PET demand will continue to strengthen worldwide.

2. Breakthrough Advancements in Imaging Systems

The evolution of hybrid imaging—especially PET/CT and PET/MRI—has fundamentally reshaped diagnostic workflows.

These systems merge functional and structural imaging, offering unmatched clarity, speed, and diagnostic precision. Improvements in detector technology, reconstruction software, and radiopharmaceutical design have further strengthened PET’s utility.

A standout milestone arrived in September 2024, when GE HealthCare received FDA clearance for Flyrcado™ (flurpiridaz F 18)—a next-generation PET myocardial perfusion imaging agent. Offering superior diagnostic accuracy over traditional SPECT MPI, Flyrcado marks a major leap forward, especially for women and high-BMI patients.

Such innovation is accelerating hybrid PET system adoption across hospitals and specialty centers.

3. Expanding Role in Personalized Medicine

The shift from “one-size-fits-all” care to precision-driven, individualized therapy is one of the most influential healthcare trends today.

PET is foundational to this movement because it:

Tracks treatment response in real time

Helps tailor drug regimens

Detects therapy effectiveness earlier than structural scans

Supports advanced cancer and neuro-degeneration research

With governments and private players investing heavily in molecular imaging, the personalized medicine sector will continue to propel PET market growth. A notable example is Mediso Ltd.’s 2022 acquisition of Bartec Technologies, strengthening its position in nuclear medicine across Europe.

Challenges Hindering Market Expansion

Despite the strong outlook, several barriers continue to limit wider PET adoption, especially in emerging economies.

1. High Cost of Equipment and Procedures

PET scanners are among the most expensive imaging systems in the world. The capital investment, combined with:

Costly radiopharmaceuticals

Specialized staff requirements

High maintenance and operational expenses

creates significant financial pressure for healthcare facilities. This limits adoption across developing countries and rural regions.

2. Short Half-Life of Radiotracers

PET radiotracers degrade rapidly, requiring proximate cyclotron facilities for production and highly coordinated logistics.

Regions lacking this infrastructure face:

Limited availability

Higher costs

Long delays

Restricted adoption

These challenges impede accessibility, particularly in lower-income and remote areas.

Segment Analysis

Full-Ring PET Scanners

Full-ring systems dominate the market due to:

Higher sensitivity

Faster imaging

Superior 3D visualization

Broader use in oncology, neurology, cardiology

Growing hospital investments and integration with hybrid systems continue to support this segment’s leadership.

Detector Technology: BGO Leads Cost-Efficient Adoption

Bismuth Germanium Oxide (BGO) remains a widely used detector material in PET scanners—especially in affordable and durable systems. While advanced crystals like LYSO are gaining traction, BGO maintains significant demand in:

Emerging markets

Oncology imaging

Facilities requiring cost-effective PET solutions

Key Applications

Cardiology

Growing prevalence of coronary artery disease is increasing reliance on PET for:

Myocardial perfusion imaging

Blood flow quantification

Therapy assessment

The introduction of novel PET agents is expected to further expand this segment.

Oncology

The largest and fastest-growing application area.

PET is indispensable for:

Early tumor detection

Staging

Therapy monitoring

Precision oncology

Advancements in radiopharmaceuticals, including PSMA-based agents, fuel strong global demand.

Neurology

Increasing incidence of neurodegenerative disorders is driving PET adoption for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, brain tumors, and epilepsy. Innovative portable systems are expanding accessibility.

Regional Market Insights

United States

The U.S. leads the global PET market, supported by:

High cancer incidence

Strong reimbursement ecosystem

Advanced healthcare infrastructure

Innovation-driven radiopharmaceutical R&D

A notable milestone occurred in July 2024, when Positrigo secured FDA clearance for its NeuroLF® brain PET system—offering compact, dedicated imaging for neurological disorders.

France

France’s market is strengthened by:

Government healthcare support

Extensive oncology and neurology programs

Growth in radiopharmaceutical production

Strong hospital networks in Paris, Lyon, Marseille

In April 2025, Telix Pharmaceuticals received French approval for Illuccix®, reinforcing the country’s leadership in precision oncology.

China

China is witnessing rapid PET market expansion due to:

Rising cancer rates

Urban healthcare investment

Government-funded nuclear medicine programs

Growing radiopharmaceutical manufacturing

A key development occurred in 2022, when Clario and XingImaging deepened collaboration on PET-based clinical trials—fast-tracking advanced diagnostics.

Brazil

Brazil’s PET market is growing on the strength of:

Increasing cancer awareness

Expansion of PET/CT systems in major hospitals

New nuclear medicine investments

Partnerships with global imaging firms

Urban centers show strong growth, though rural access remains a challenge.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is rapidly modernizing healthcare under Vision 2030, driving PET adoption through:

Investments in specialty hospitals

Advances in nuclear medicine

Increasing radiopharmaceutical production

Rising chronic disease prevalence

In December 2024, King Abdulaziz University launched the nation’s first PET/MRI Alzheimer’s diagnostic service, strengthening local capabilities.

Market Segmentation Snapshot

By Product Type

Full-Ring PET Scanners

Partial-Ring PET Scanners

By Detector Type

Bismuth Germanium Oxide (BGO)

Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate (LSO)

Lutetium Fine Silicate (LFS)

Lutetium Yttrium Orthosilicate (LYSO)

Gadolinium Oxyorthosilicate (GSO)

By Application

Cardiology

Neurology

Oncology

Others

By End-User

Hospitals & Clinics

Diagnostic Centers

Others

By Region

North America: U.S., Canada

Europe: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K., Belgium, Netherlands, Turkey

Asia Pacific: China, Japan, India, S. Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand

Latin America: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina

Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa

Key Companies Covered

(Each covered with Overviews, Key Persons, Recent Developments, SWOT, Revenue Analysis)

Agfa Healthcare (Dedalus Group)

GE Healthcare

Koninklijke Philips NV

Neusoft Medical Systems

Positron Corporation

Oncovision (Bruker)

Mediso Medical Imaging Systems Ltd.

Siemens Healthineers AG

Segami Corporation

Hitachi Ltd.

Final Thoughts

The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) market is set for meaningful growth through 2033, firmly anchored by rising chronic disease prevalence, the evolution of hybrid imaging systems, and the global march toward precision medicine. While challenges such as high capital costs and radiotracer logistics remain, technological breakthroughs and expanding radiopharmaceutical pipelines continue to push adoption forward.

As governments, private healthcare operators, and diagnostic innovators intensify their investments, PET imaging is poised to remain one of the most essential tools shaping the future of early diagnosis, advanced therapy planning, and precision-driven patient care worldwide.