An estimated 11.5 million echocardiography procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2004 at 3,155 sites, up 5% from the 10.4 million procedures performed in 2002, according to a study recently released by market research and consulting firm IMV Medical Information Division.
In addition to the utilization increase, the use of commercial contrast agents for echocardiography is becoming more widespread, with the proportion of sites using contrast increasing from 40% of sites in 2003 to 49% in 2004, according to IMV senior director of market research Lorna Young.
She noted that 12% of the surveyed sites (2,755 hospitals with more than 100 beds and 400 cardiology practices) plan to start using commercial contrast in 2005, which could lead to 61% of the sites using commercial contrast agents by the end of this year.
According to the Des Plaines, IL-based firm, half of the surveyed echo labs are improving current capabilities, either by adding new units, replacing old ones, or updating their current systems. In addition, echo sites are expanding their use of networks to transmit images to multiple locations, including within the lab and to other departments and facilities.
IMV's 2004 "Echocardiography Market Summary Report" is available with a database license or as a separate purchase. The report compares U.S. trends from the recent census with four prior echocardiography census surveys the company has conducted since 1997.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
July 27, 2005
Related Reading
MR clinical use expanding in U.S., April 20, 2005
AuntMinnie's IMV MarketStat #35: MRI sites having at least one power injector, April 11, 2005
CT procedure volume surges, February 4, 2005
AuntMinnie's IMV MarketStat #34: Mix of CT scanners by detector type, January 31, 2005
IMV buys AuntMinnie.com, January 4, 2005
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![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
