"This is one of many areas where the agent-enhanced CT scan is playing a supporting role in diagnosis," said Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information. "Physicians are increasingly comfortable with computed tomography when a diagnosis is not clear from other modalities."

Trauma, pediatric health, vascular imaging and cardiac imaging are among the areas where CT scans are employed, and other areas are being investigated. Kalorama estimates that over 54.5 million imaging procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2009, most requiring some kind of contrast agent. GE Healthcare, Covidien, Bayer, and Guerbet are among the large manufacturers of contrast agents used for computed tomography.

Kalorama Information's "Medical Imaging Markets: Contrast Agents" analyzes the world market for contrast media used with medical imaging diagnostic systems and for radiopharmaceuticals used in molecular imaging. The report includes market estimates, forecasts and company profiles.

SOURCE: Kalorama Information