A market report on breast imaging technologies published this month by research firm Markets and Markets forecasts growth in breast imaging to approximately $3 billion in the next five years.

The report indicated that breast imaging would make gains at an estimated 8.1 percent compound annual growth rate from 2014 to 2019. Noted breast imaging technologies included mammography and ultrasound, but also PET/CT, molecular breast imaging and optical imaging.

Public and private initiatives were listed as drivers in the upswing, with special attention given to early breast cancer screening and the increasing incidence of breast cancer. Expensive investments and installations were marked as challenges, in addition to radiation safety for patients. India and China are potential emerging markets for this sector of the molecular imaging industry.

The U.S. and Canada hold the largest percentage of the market, along with Europe. Asia-Pacific useage is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.2 percent from 2014 to 2019.