Imaging Agents Market Size Growth - By Product Type (Iodinated Contrast Media, Gadolinium-based Contrast Media, Microbubble Contrast Media, Barium-based Contrast Media), Application (Oncology, Gastrointestinal, Cardiology Neurology), Modality (X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound), End-use (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Diagnostic & Imaging Centers, Others), and By Region: Statistics Reports, Supply & Demand Analysis, Global Opportunity 2025-2032

Global Market Synopsis, Forecast, Trend, and Growth Up To 2032

The Imaging Agents Market was valued at US$ 10.70 Bn in 2025, It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2025 to 2032 and reach US$ 17.49 Bn by the end of 2032. The growth in the imaging agents industry can be summed up mainly by the development in offering information about structural or disease-related changes.

Users view the anatomical structure and physiological process with the use of an imaging agent to diagnose the disease. It is critical for both preclinical research and clinical intervention in the process of localization of disease and observation of progression or regression of disease. This measures the appropriate course of treatment in terms of effectiveness and evaluates the efficacy of the treatment that is being followed. A hybrid of imaging technology is required for an accurate diagnosis. Several modalities of imaging present various characteristics, strengths, and challenges about spatial resolution, sensitivity, or tissue penetration depth. In the last 20 years, application of nanotechnology improved quality of images in structural and biomolecular imaging with the simultaneous reduction of toxicity from image-enhancing agents. Its application is seen in drug development and pharmacokinetic measurements for drugs in the pharmaceutical industry for dose selection.

Factors Driving the Imaging Agents Market

Better patient care: This advanced technology of bringing AI with medical imaging enhances accuracy and transforms the speed as well as efficiency of imaging diagnosis.

Find the problem: Imagine machines such as MRI and CT scans that help decide on the existence of tumors or other abnormalities before making a surgical incision.

Diagnosis and treatment: It is a non-invasive test carried out by medical professionals to create diverse images of the body for better diagnosis and proper treatment.

Early detection: medical imaging allows screening of health conditions before the appearance of any symptoms.

How do AI trends affect the market for imaging agents?

AI is generally applied in medical imaging. The forms in which AI can be used consist of identifying complex patterns in imaging data, providing a quantitative assessment of radiographic characteristics, and detecting image modalities at different treatment stages. Implementing AI analysis in medical imaging helps healthcare professionals find problem spots. For instance, this AI-based technology of medical imaging is used in the diagnosis of cardiovascular abnormalities, such as identification of left atrial enlargement and problems related to the heart. AI-based medical imaging tools are built with highly potent algorithms coupled with tremendous computing power to enable the physician to make a rapid decision. The value of AI and machines lies in the fact that they help monitor the status of a patient and even detect faint changes among vast amounts of information.

Market Segmentation

The global imaging agents market can be classified into by product Type, by application, Modality and by end-use. In terms of product, the market is segmented into Iodinated Contrast Media, Gadolinium-based Contrast Media, Microbubble Contrast Media, Barium-based Contrast Media, and Others.

Based on application, the market is divided into Oncology, Gastrointestinal, Cardiology Neurology, and others.

By Product Segment

In 2023, the iodinated contrast media held the most significant share of the imaging agents market and will continue expanding in the field. Iodinated contrast media are chemical contrast agents that include iodine atoms for x-ray-based modalities, such as CT and angiography, for imaging. It enhances the resolution between tissues and is superior in visualizing blood vessels. I summarize the actual statistics through Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America 2022, while stating that ICM is administered worldwide around 75 million times a year.

It was reported in the International Society for Computed Tomography (ISCT) meeting in Boston, where, on September 2024, the administration of iodinated contrast medium (ICM) in the computed tomography (CT) scans in the radiology departments was said to reduce the environmental impact of the procedure.

Gadolinium contrast media is emerging as a burgeoning segment in the imaging agents market, with an expected high growth rate to be seen during the forecast period of 2024-2034. Contrast agents can be defined as pharmaceutical drugs that improve the information obtained through diagnostic images. It enhances the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic images through the modification of natural properties of tissues, which further influences the fundamental mechanisms. Gadolinium-based contrast media is also known as MRI contrast media, agents, or dyes. Their usage is highly observed in MRI scans. It is intravenously injected into the body before carrying out the MRI scan to enhance and improve the quality of the MRI images. It has been proved to deliver an accurate anatomical and physiological report of the body, which enables the radiologist to diagnose the body.

By Application Segment

Cardiology dominated the imaging agents market in 2023. Cardiac imaging refers to a variety of examination types that capture pictures of your heart and structures surrounding it. Diagnostic imaging helps detect conditions in the heart, like heart disease, leakage in valves of the heart, and defects in the size or shape of the heart. The cardiac imaging procedures include CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA), Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring, and MRI Heart (Cardiac MRI). Cardiovascular imaging is much safer procedure, non-invasive or minimally invasive. In fact, many people hardly get allergic reactions due to the dye involved in cardiac imaging tests.

The oncology segment is expected to grow at the highest rate in the imaging agents market during the forecast period. Cancer is a difficult disease to detect, but early detection of many cancers is possible with the help of imaging techniques. Furthermore, imaging techniques determine how developed the cancer is or the cancer stage, and they detect the exact location of the uncontrollable growth of body cells, which directs the surgery to treat the cancer.

Keck Medicine of USC, located in Los Angeles, has just announced that USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center will add advanced technologies in treating cancer with the newest forms of radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging. Modality Insights

In 2023, the computed tomography (CT) segment of imaging agents led the world market. Computed tomography, or CT, is a 3D X-ray that is built by taking X-ray shots of the same structures from different angles. Later, these X-rays undergo a computer process, yielding a 3D image. The CT scan is the fastest imaging modality when compared with other noninvasive imaging modalities and provides high resolution. It is, therefore, among the most commonly applied diagnostic imaging techniques, especially in oncology and cardiology. Most of the clinically applied CT contrast agents are iodinated small molecules, since iodine effectively decreases X-ray photons. This high energy emitted by X-ray leads to ionization, meaning the radiation is going to alter the atomic structure of the tissue hence posing a possible risk for the development of cancer. It also damages the DNA. Contributing to the CT segment is more demanding in the imaging agents market.

By American Cancer Society, Nov 2023 - The following statistics from the American Cancer Society paint a picture of lung cancer diagnosis in the US: In 2023, approximately 238,340 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed through routine chest X-rays, with 127,070 lung cancer-related deaths in the US. Ten to twenty percent of lung cancer diagnoses fall into the "never-smoker" category, or individuals who have never smoked or who have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.

By End-use Segment

Diagnostic & Imaging Centers holds the highest and largest share of the imaging agents market in 2023 because healthcare providers refer their patients to interact with diagnostic imaging centers, which produce medical images with the help of various machines and techniques, such as radiography (X-rays), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy, ultrasound, echocardiography, and nuclear medicine, such as PET. One more factor that is contributing towards the growth of diagnostic & imaging center segments in the market is that they prove to be more affordable for both the patients and the health professionals.

Competitive Landscape

Some of the major players functioning in the imaging agents market industry include:

• Siemens Healthineers
• Canon Medical Systems Corporation
• RadNet
• Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals
• GE Healthcare
• Alliance Medical
• Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc.
• Guerbet Group
• Eli Lily
• Mindray and Hologic, Inc.
• Blue Earth Diagnostics
• Blackford Analysis
• Philips Medical

Drivers, Challenges and Opportunities

Driver

Prediction and prevention

The doctor or medical practitioner is in a position to find out the cause of the problem with any intervention on the internal body, especially on the tendons, muscles, joints, vessels, and organs. It also leads to quick recovery of the patient. Medical radiation, among other applications, such as CT scans and radiation technologies for treating cancer, aids in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, including stroke, heart diseases, appendicitis, and cancer. According to Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), the manufacturers have launched new products with new system innovations and patient care initiatives that have reduced radiation exposures up to 75 percent or more, besides improving the doctor's ability to diagnose and treat their patients.

Challenges

Increased patient awareness among patients who require more frequent medical imaging is found. There is a need to decrease the risk associated with radiation while advancing the diagnosis. Among those who attended the meeting, organized by the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security of the IAEA, was the discussion of impacts and hard action required to strengthen guidelines in regard to patient protection and developing technological solutions to track patient exposure to radiation. Geographical-wise, Japan holds the world record with most diagnostic devices available in the world. In England, 45.9 million imaging tests were announced in the year 2023.

Opportunity

Deep Learning and Machine Learning

Imaging agents involving deep learning and machine learning technologies will be applied in medical imaging, since the hand interpretation of reports after observing the medical image has resulted in delay and errors; such a problem will be eliminated in the future. Deep learning models have brought significant impact to medical image processing. Convolutional neural networks, artificial neural networks used in the identification of images and patterns, among other deep learning techniques, have made it practically possible to automate the processing of medical images with obvious improvements in the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment. This will find wide applicability in radiology.

Based on April 2024, Stanford and the researchers at University of Washington constructed the basic model called MONET for Medical cONcept rETriever. It explains the process of mapping medical images to text as well as produces complex inscriptions in order to get tasks within the bounds of AI transparency - from auditing models to the interpretation of models. Recently, it was published in Nature Medicine.

Region Analysis

North America leads the market for 2023 in imaging agents. The demand for radiology imaging is highly increasing, and this has undergone tremendous development over the last few years in North America. The region has constantly grown and strengthened the healthcare industry infrastructure. These developments are seen in technology, application, and accessibility of the services. The United States is more renowned for having the best facilities for medical imaging and the world's top radiology department, which stresses on thorough patient care. Other factors that are driving the growth of markets in imaging agents are investments in research and development.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing in the imaging agents market in the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is expanding in the market due to the rising number of cancers, heart disease, and gastrointestinal cases. Japan and South Korea are leading these technological advancements. In this region, robotic radiology has lately come into practice.

In the current year, ASUS publicly unveiled its latest lineups of AI-based medical products. The company is developing wearable medical technology, medical artificial intelligence, and medical imaging technologies for the development of productivity among medical professionals and to motivate people around the world toward healthier lifestyles. ASUS is looking forward to unveiling its new lineups of AI-based medical products this coming September.

Recent Development

In May 2024, Blue Earth Diagnostics, an operating company of Bracco and a leader in the development and commercialization of innovative PET radiopharmaceuticals, announced that it has partnered with Siemens Healthineers to make available the PET imaging agent, POSLUMA (Flotufolastat F 18), for the visualization of PSMA-positive lesions associated with suspected metastases or recurrences of prostate cancer.

In April 2024, RadNet (Los Angeles) is launching a new joint venture with Providence Health System. This partnership will carry the new brand name of Tri-Valley Imaging Group and is launching in seven other locations throughout California, all aimed at leveraging diagnostic imaging expertise.