The U.S. ultrasound market grew almost 3% in 2013 to reach an all-time high of $1.44 billion, according to a report released by Klein Biomedical Consultants.
The report, titled "The Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound Market in the USA: Challenges and Opportunities in the New Millennium, 2013," found that ultrasound purchases increased, particularly in the musculoskeletal and critical care point-of-care markets, despite uncertainties caused by the Affordable Care Act, continued declines in reimbursement, and slow economic growth.
The radiology ultrasound segment grew 8%, but the gain was somewhat offset by a decline in cardiology, which the report attributed to the late introduction of Philips Healthcare's Epiq system, as anticipation of the scanner stalled purchasing. GE Healthcare extended its market-share lead by several percentage points over Philips, according to the report.
In addition, the industry continued to consolidate, with Analogic's purchase of Ultrasonix Medical and Mindray Medical International's purchase of Zonare. GE's Logiq E9 was the No. 1 selling product on the market in 2013, Klein found.
The report predicts that the U.S. ultrasound market will grow to $1.88 billion by 2018, representing an annual growth rate of 5.8%.
![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)
