The approval of a digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) system from GE Healthcare will invigorate the mammography market and lead to growth in overall DBT sales, according to a new market research report by research and consulting firm GlobalData.
The firm is projecting that DBT unit sales will grow at a 36.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2013 and 2020. DBT is also expected to contribute 82% toward total U.S. revenues from breast imaging systems by 2020.
The report notes that GE's SenoClaire DBT system differs significantly in its mechanism for acquiring images from the only other system on the U.S. market, Selenia Dimensions from Hologic. For example, the Hologic system uses a continuous tube motion to capture images, while the GE unit uses a step-and-shoot mode, in which the gantry comes to a full halt for every x-ray exposure.
Selenia Dimensions acquires 15 images over a 15º scan angle, and it provides both 3D mediolateral oblique (MLO) and 3D craniocaudal (CC) views of the breast. SenoClaire acquires nine images over 25º to form a 3D MLO image of the breast. It's unclear whether SenoClaire is able to produce a 3D CC view, according to GlobalData.
Either way, GlobalData believes that success will derive from targeted marketing and strategic pricing. Other vendors may also be encouraged to enter the DBT market due to the GE approval; for example, in June, Siemens Healthcare filed an application for its Mammomat Inspiration with DBT option.
