Reflecting the growing demand for point-of-care ultrasound technology, emerging clinical applications contributed to more than one-fifth of the $3.66 billion U.S. (3.25 billion euro) global ultrasound market in 2014, according to a report by market research firm Frost & Sullivan.
Conventional ultrasound clinical applications such as radiology, cardiology, and ob/gyn still make up 78% of the market, but they are being outstripped by emerging clinical segments in North America, Latin America, and Western Europe, according to the firm. Sales of premium ultrasound systems in these areas are limited by market saturation, and refurbished systems are also cannibalizing sales of new and advanced equipment, Frost & Sullivan said. In addition, budgetary constraints, inadequate technical resources, and lack of reimbursement for ultrasound procedures are hindering widespread adoption.
Meanwhile, demand for point-of-care ultrasound is being driven by greater awareness of the harmful effects of radiation exposure in other imaging modalities and the ability to provide additional care at the patient site, Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Srikanth Kompalli said in a statement.
Frost & Sullivan noted that ultrasound vendors are producing more mobile systems with real-time and volume imaging capabilities, as well as 3D and 4D transducers. These technologies will address the diagnostic and image guidance needs of interventional procedures; in the future, ultrasound is expected to find substantial adoption in dermatology, breast imaging, and therapeutic applications, according to the company.
On a geographic basis, the U.S., Brazil, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the U.K., and India make up nearly 75% of total ultrasound revenue and market volume, according to Frost & Sullivan. Cart-based and portable (laptop) ultrasound equipment combine for 87% of units sold and 97.5% of revenue.
Thanks to improving functionality, performance, and affordability, the sales of portable and ultraportable ultrasound systems are expected to exceed those of cart-based ultrasound systems by 2019, driven by demand in clinical segments such as emergency care, anesthesia and pain management, musculoskeletal applications, primary care, ob/gyn, and general imaging radiology, Kompalli said.
![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)