Global Nuclear Cardiology Market 2025 – 2034

Reports Description

As per the Nuclear Cardiology Market conducted by the CMI Team, the global Nuclear Cardiology Market is expected to record a CAGR of 7.5% from 2025 to 2034. In 2025, the market size is projected to reach a valuation of USD 2.6 Billion. By 2034, the valuation is anticipated to reach USD 5.1 Billion.

Overview

The Nuclear Cardiology Market is steadily ascending with the increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and the high demand for non-invasive early-stage diagnosis. In product segments, radiopharmaceuticals are the fast-growing segment due to the greater availability of newer tracers such as Rubidium-82 and new PET agents that augment diagnostic accuracy. While imaging systems for PET have gained considerable momentum over SPECT systems due to better resolution and quantitative capabilities.

From the standpoint of procedures, myocardial perfusion imaging continues to hold the market away from other procedures due to the well-established clinical utility in coronary artery disease evaluation. Cardiac PET, on the other hand, is forecasted to grow at a much faster rate, particularly in developed markets, due to its higher sensitivity and precision for cardiology purposes.

The North American region holds the largest market share given its advanced healthcare infrastructure, favorable reimbursement, and strong manufacturer presence. On the contrary, Asia-Pacific is set to emerge as the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. Having been driven by increasing healthcare investments, a growing middle-class population, and the rising incidence of cardiac disorders, countries such as China, India, and Japan are focused on expanding diagnostic imaging capacity, in turn accelerating the regional market. Strategic collaborations and local production of isotopes further support the growth.

Key Trends & Drivers                                                                                                  

The Nuclear Cardiology Market Trends present significant growth opportunities due to several factors:

• Global Increase in Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disorders: The rise in coronary artery disease, heart failure, and related disorders in the world has been a major cause for nuclear cardiology. As populations live longer and maintain sedentary lifestyles, they demand early and accurate diagnostic techniques. Nuclear cardiology procedures such as myocardial perfusion imaging are used to detect ischemia, infarction, and cardiac viability and hence are essential in clinical decision-making. With the disease burden rising, mostly in urban populations and in low- and middle-income countries, the patient population is also expanding and advancing the use of nuclear imaging technologies, whether in private or public healthcare institutions.

• Progression in Imaging Technological Systems: There is a major push in the market for hybrid imaging platforms, especially the SPECT/CT and PET/CT systems. These systems offered better image resolution, less time in acquisition, and the simultaneous evaluation processes of the heart locally and functionally. Adding AI and interpretation automation further improves diagnosis and workflow efficiencies. These PET systems are more popular because of their quantitative nature and use of advanced tracers. With the momentum of innovation, the key equipment makers are coaxing healthcare facilities to upgrade their existing systems, which is leading to much-needed capital investment in infrastructure for nuclear cardiology.

• Growing Uses of Radiopharmaceuticals: The development of novel radiotracers has widened the clinical application of nuclear cardiology beyond myocardial perfusion imaging. Such newer-generation agents provide greater target specificity, faster clearance, and less radiation exposure. Agents such as Rubidium-82 for PET imaging and fluorine-based compounds are allowing the evaluation of myocardial blood flow and viability with better precision. Also, non-reactor-based isotope generation methods provide solutions to global supply issues, making these novel radiopharmaceuticals more readily accessible. In the present scenario, since radiotracers are becoming more and more specialized and clinically relevant, their increasing application is expected to shore up the procedure volumes and instill enhanced diagnostic confidence in cardiac care.

• Expanding in Emerging Frontiers: With nuclear cardiology, the emerging nations of Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East form the major contours of the landscape, where the environment, security, preventive cardiology, and capital in general undergo further development. The diagnostic imaging services are promoted in large cities and are making their way to tier-2 cities in countries such as China, India, and Brazil. To be more specific about nuclear imaging, schemes of government-related health insurance and diagnostic chains’ expansions would be open ways for access. Partnerships formed locally for radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and training are providing an answer to the capacity and regulatory trouble, thereby paving the way for the sustainable development of nuclear cardiology services in locations mostly unattended before.

Significant Threats

The Nuclear Cardiology Market has several major threats that may hinder growth and profitability now and in the future, including:

• Radiopharmaceutical Supply Chain Dependency: This industry, being rather dependent on the import of radioisotopes such as Technetium-99m and Rubidium-82, faces the risk of geopolitical tensions, export restrictions, and logistical disturbances. Due to the short half-lives of the isotopes, any delay in transport can directly affect the diagnostic and nuclear cardiology procedures. With limited domestic production capabilities in several locations, such disruptions threaten the good operation of the nuclear cardiology department at any time, especially during global crises or tariff impositions. The increased cost of procurement and the added complexity to availability and scheduling in nuclear cardiology make it one of the greatest operational threats healthcare providers already face when looking to derive an efficient throughput of imaging studies.

• Regulatory and safety compliance complexity: Regulatory regimes are quite exacting in agriculture, encompassing radiological safety, facility licensing, isotope handling, and environmental disposal. They go on to vary from place to place and are, in many cases, in the jurisdictional overlaps, increasing administrative effort. Small to medium diagnostic testing centers may have trouble coping with the cost of compliance, along with long waits for approvals when new equipment or tracers are introduced. Furthermore, changing regulations on radiation safety or public perception surrounding nuclear exposure may act as disincentives to investment, acceptance, and market entry. Such regulatory complexity slows down adoption and increases operational costs and further delays the marketing of new radiopharmaceuticals and imaging technologies.

Opportunities

• Expanded Application of PET Imaging in Cardiology: With the growing acceptance of cardiac PET imaging, a big opportunity is presenting itself for expansion. PET provides greater spatial resolution, quantifies myocardial blood flow better, and allows for lesser radiation exposure as compared to SPECT. As newer tracers such as Flurpiridaz F-18 receive approval with reimbursement coverages, PET’s clinical utilization will balloon in ischemia detection, viability tests, and microvascular disease diagnosis. This trend is also supported by the ready availability of PET/CT infrastructure within private and outpatient communities. As awareness and guideline backing are increasingly phenomenal for PET, vendors and service providers are in a position to exploit diagnostic procedures that bring in greater revenues.

• Growth of Emerging Economies: The high growth potential in emerging markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and parts of the Middle East presents a rise in cardiovascular diseases, with concurrent growth in diagnostic imaging capacity and access to healthcare. Investments in nuclear medicine infrastructure are being made by governments and private entities, encompassing radiopharmaceutical production and training schemes. Partnerships with local providers and technology transfers are leading to cost-effective imaging solutions appropriate for local requirements. With growing facilities and awareness building among clinicians, nuclear cardiology should eventually yield an avenue for underpenetrated markets in secondary and tertiary care centers.

Category Wise Insights

Product Type

• Radiopharmaceuticals: Furthering the frontline agents of nuclear cardiology, Technetium-99m still mainly focuses on myocardial perfusion imaging. PET tracer, of course, Rubidium-82 with Flurpiridaz F-18 enters the new age, with diagnostic sensitivity and quantification at an elementary level. Enhanced production partnerships and domestic-level manufacturing are bringing forth supply stability. With the introduction of new cardiac tracers pertinent to microvascular and inflammatory processes, the demand for various radiopharmaceuticals should accelerate quickly, especially across outpatient diagnostic networks.

• Imaging Equipment: Hybrid imaging systems, with the SPECT/CT and PET/CT systems being particularly implicated, find increased adoption with better anatomical-functional correlation and enhanced workflow efficiency. PET systems are undergoing very rapid expansion with the development of technology and the increased availability of cardiac PET tracers. Vendors are proposing to go for miniaturized, digital, and AI-enabled platforms that essentially enhance access to viewing and interpreting images. Due to equipment upgrades in developed markets and new installations in emerging economies, this segment is steadily growing, particularly in imaging centers with a cardiology slant.

Diagnostic Procedure

• Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI): Presently, the MPI is the only test deemed a gold standard for assessing coronary artery disease. SPECT MPI is used pretty widely in routine clinical settings, while PET MPI is gaining value at the higher-risk patient spectrum for its quantitative accuracy and lower radiation dose. Angiography CT, faced with MPI, can raise the ischemic assessment, especially in hybrid labs. Subsequent to procedures undergoing reliability assessments, clinical guidelines have been set, and insurance reimbursements are also made. Hence, this is the dominance across hospital and outpatient imaging centers.

• Gated SPECT: Gated SPECT combines perfusion and functional analysis in a single study, providing information on wall motion, ejection fraction, and myocardial viability. It continues to be the most common modality used for post-infarction assessment and treatment planning. Improved camera systems and reconstruction software gave rise to better imaging parameters, reduced scan time, and less patient discomfort. Another reason gated SPECT is often preferred in developing countries is its cost-effectiveness and compatibility with existing infrastructure.

• Cardiac PET Imaging: Cardiac PET imaging is increasingly becoming popular due to its high spatial resolution, less time for acquisition time, and myocardial blood flow quantification ability. Specimens for analyzing balanced ischemia and microvascular dysfunction are virtually precious. Expansion in the PET/CT infrastructure, along with the approval of cardiac-specific tracers such as Rubidium-82 and Flurpiridaz F-18, is fueling the segment. Accompanied by growing clinical evidence about its superiority over the SPECT for diagnostic purposes, it will likely be adopted in tertiary hospitals and specialized cardiology centers.

• Multi-Gated Acquisition(MUGA) Scan: The MUGA scan is considered very reliable and reproducible in monitoring the left ventricular function for the toxic effect of chemotherapies and in the pre-operative evaluation. These days, increasing preference goes toward echocardiography and cardiac MRI; however, the usefulness of MUGA testing remains because of its reproducibility and ease of interpretation. In oncology and transplant units, MUGAs are still widely used where precision monitoring of ejection fraction is demanded.

By Indication

• Coronary artery disease (CAD): CAD is the primary driver of nuclear cardiology demand, with MPI acting as the main procedure for non-invasive ischemia detection and risk stratification. Increasing rates of diabetes, hypertension, and sedentary lifestyles across the globe accentuate the demand for CAD imaging. Nuclear methods are usually combined with stress testing, assisting both in diagnosis and therapy monitoring. The further development of tracers and imaging systems is likely to result in increased diagnostic certainty in complex cases of CAD.

• Heart Failure: Nuclear cardiology services in heart failure involve the assessment of myocardial viability and perfusion. Viability imaging is useful in deciding about revascularization, especially in ischemic cardiomyopathy. It is believed that metabolic imaging using PET and perfusion imaging using SPECT can distinguish viable myocardium from non-viable myocardium. With a higher prevalence of heart failure, particularly with aging populations, the importance of nuclear imaging in therapeutic planning and prognosis will increase.

• Cardiomyopathy: In cardiomyopathy, nuclear imaging assists in the identification and characterization of perfusion defects and the evaluation of ventricular function. It assists in differentiating ischemic from non-ischemic causes, which thus dictate treatment modalities. It is not a first-line imaging modality, but it gives a wealth of complementary information about ischemic heart disease, especially when other modalities fail to give a diagnosis or provide unclear results. As genetic and infiltrative cardiomyopathies have become better defined, nuclear imaging may further be used to monitor these diseases and assess treatment efficacy.

• Valvular Heart Disease: Although echocardiography is an established standard in valvular assessment, nuclear imaging may find use in certain cases, more so where myocardial perfusion or viability assessment needs to be carried out simultaneously with valve function. It may be considered before valve interventions in the assessment of risk. Therefore, the role of nuclear imaging will always be allied but quite relevant in a multi-modal approach to cardiac imaging, primarily in patients with a history of mixed valvular and ischemic pathology.

• Others (e.g., Arrhythmia): Nuclear cardiology is employed for arrhythmia purposes as an adjunct, specifically in the detection of perfusion abnormalities and structural heart diseases that may be related to rhythm disturbances. In atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, for example, imaging assists in the detection of ischemia or planning for ablation procedures. It is not expected to be used strictly for arrhythmia diagnosis but is considered one of the tools for determining underlying myocardial pathology. This subsegment has steady demand in complex cases where traditional methods yield inconclusive data or require anatomical correlation.

End User

• Hospitals: Nuclear cardiology systems are used mainly in hospitals, which constitute the major part of the market. Since high-volume imaging is performed in various emergency, inpatient, and specialty cardiology service settings, PET/CT and hybrid SPECT systems are supported and invested in by institutions looking for advanced services in diagnostics. Academic hospitals also support clinical trials and the evaluation of new tracers, cementing their presence as important players in market development.

• Cardiology Centers: Dedicated cardiology clinics are expanding their existing nuclear imaging services, which usually involve integrating MPI, gated SPECT, and PET into routine diagnostic workups. The clinics would thus buy small, fast scanners, with the incorporation of A.I. to minimize the time taken per scan. Given their outpatient nature, these establishments act as drivers in the decentralization of nuclear cardiology services, mostly in metropolitan areas.

• Diagnostic Imaging Centers: An imaging center is a third-party diagnostic setting that carries out nuclear cardiology along with different modalities such as CT and MRI. Imaging centers accept both referred customers and walk-in clients, with an emphasis on efficient reporting, cost-effectiveness, and rapid reporting. The rapid expansion of private imaging chains in the emerging economies will accelerate the acceptance of nuclear systems in this segment, whereby cardiology-specific packages are pushed.

• Academic and Research Institutes: It also includes tracer development, dosimetry, multicenter trials, and nuclear cardiology innovations. Considering hybrid imaging applications, these institutions share the high demand for validation of new PET tracers. Their pattern of use is much less commercially oriented, tending more toward research output and validation of clinical applications. Public funding and grants flow to them for equipment upgrades and for increasing their intensity of use!

Impact of Recent Tariff Policies

Current tariff policies have had a profound impact on the Nuclear Cardiology industry. The whole import tariff raises the cost of the procurement of radiopharmaceuticals and diagnostic imaging equipment. More than 80% of radiopharmaceuticals are being imported for nuclear cardiology procedures, including Technetium-99m. Tariffs on these materials and processing equipment have, therefore, increased procurement costs and caused supply chain vulnerabilities. Industry associations such as the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) have approached the U.S. government to ask for either a stay or an exemption so as not to disrupt diagnosis.

The tariffs imposed on imported medical imaging systems—which means SPECT/CT and PET/CT units from European countries, China, and Mexico—are steadily increasing the costs of equipment for hospitals and cardiac centers. Regarding companies like GE HealthCare and Siemens Healthineers, and Philips, as components are sourced worldwide, they see their manufacturing and import costs increase.

As isotopes have a very short shelf life, stockpiling cannot be done. That means the tariffs add an element of uncertainty, whether in scheduling procedures or containing clinical throughput. The industry is trying to reckon with domestic isotope production and localized sourcing options, but changes on these fronts require regulatory clearances and long capital investment, while, in the short term, nuclear cardiology providers face higher costs of service delivery and supply instability that threaten access and pricing for cardiac diagnostics.

Report Scope

Regional Analysis

The Nuclear Cardiology Market is segmented into various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Here is a brief overview of each region:

• North America: Because of a large prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, high-level healthcare infrastructure, and an early uptake of nuclear imaging technologies, North America remains at the forefront of the Nuclear Cardiology Market. Major companies such as GE HealthCare, Lantheus, and Cardinal Health operate heavily in this region to ensure equipment availability and radiopharmaceutical supply. Other ongoing projects involve investment and development of outpatient imaging centers and domestic production of isotopes to improve procedural efficiency and lessen dependency on imports. Strong clinical integration and technology-driven growth maintain North America on its leading position in this market.

• Europe: The nuclear cardiology market in Europe is of utmost importance owing to the stringent regulatory setup and provisions for universal healthcare, together with an increasing number of aging individuals at risk of cardiovascular disorders. Germany, Great Britain, and France remain abreast in procedure volumes and infrastructure readiness. Some public hospitals across the continent might lean toward SPECT imaging, although PET imaging is an up-and-coming favorite among tertiary care centers and research institutions. The production of isotopes in countries like France and Belgium supports the region, thus providing an uninterrupted supply of radiopharmaceuticals. Clinical integration at different levels in Europe through cooperation among member states in research, standardization of equipment, and clinical trials conducted across borders accelerates regional market growth against the economic backdrop.

• Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region for the nuclear cardiology market, with increasing urbanization, the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, and improved health facilities. Post public and private investments in diagnostic imaging, China, India, Japan, and South Korea are the leading markets. Key facilitators include the continued installations of PET/CT and SPECT/CT and radiopharmaceutical access. Other and quite significant incentives for market growth include government initiatives in preventive cardiology, partnerships for local production of isotopes, and its growing use in outpatient settings. Despite the poor infrastructure in rural areas, the huge patient pool and awareness of diagnostics in the region present huge long-term market opportunities.

• LAMEA (Latin America, Middle East & Africa): Expanding opportunities emerge in the LAMEA region for the nuclear cardiology market with increasing awareness of cardiovascular health and a gradual build-up of nuclear medicine infrastructure. In the Middle East, countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investing in advanced imaging technologies under national healthcare strategies. Conversely, most of Africa faces impediments to market development, such as constrained radiopharmaceutical supply, delayed regulations, and weak technical training. The establishment of partnerships with global vendors and regional isotope production projects is slowly solving the aforesaid impediments to increase access and develop the market.

Key Developments

The Nuclear Cardiology Market has undergone a number of important developments over the last couple of years as participants in the industry look to expand their geographic footprint and enhance their product offering and profitability by leveraging synergies.

• In January 2025, GE HealthCare secured a seven‑year, USD 1 billion AI‑imaging partnership with Sutter Health, integrating AI-powered PET/CT, SPECT/CT, and other imaging across over 300 facilities to standardise cardiac diagnostics and enhance access.

• In June 2025, at the SNMMI annual meeting, GE HealthCare launched Flyrcado (flurpiridaz F‑18)—a novel unit‑dose PET MPI tracer—and showcased next‑generation PET/CT and SPECT/CT platforms, including Omni Legend and Aurora/Spectral systems tailored for cardiac diagnostics.

• In December 2024, GE HealthCare agreed to acquire the remaining 50% stake in Nihon Medi‑Physics Co. (NMP) from Sumitomo Chemical, enabling full ownership and strengthening control over radiopharmaceutical manufacturing for cardiac SPECT MPI with MYOVIEW and other agents; closing is expected in early 2025 pending regulatory approval.

• In November 2024, Positron Corporation announced a strategic partnership with Upbeat Cardiology Solutions, offering its NeuSight PET‑CT 64‑slice system via a turnkey model for cardiology practices, inclusive of equipment installation, training, and isotope supply.

These initiatives provided the companies with the chance to expand their portfolios, sharpen their competitive edge, and capitalize on the opportunities for growth that are present in the Nuclear Cardiology Market. This activity is likely to continue because most companies are making every effort to compete with their rivals in the marketplace.

Leading Players

The Nuclear Cardiology Market is moderately consolidated, dominated by large-scale players with infrastructure and government support. Some of the key players in the market include:

• GE HealthCare
• Siemens Healthineers
• Canon Medical Systems Corporation
• Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Bracco Imaging S.p.A.
• Cardinal Health Inc.
• Jubilant Radiopharma
• Lantheus Holdings, Inc.
• Curium Pharma
• Eckert & Ziegler Group
• Advanced Accelerator Applications (a Novartis company)
• Mediso Ltd.
• Digirad Corporation
• Spectrum Dynamics Medical
• Institute of Isotopes Co. Ltd.
• SHINE Technologies
• NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes LLC
• Positron Corporation
• SOFIE Biosciences
• IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.)
• Others

The moderately consolidated landscape of competition intimidates the Nuclear Cardiology Market with an amalgam of global imaging system manufacturers and specialized radiopharmaceutical companies. The imaging equipment segment is dominated by GE HealthCare, Siemens Healthineers, Philips, and Canon Medical, with their applications of advanced SPECT/CT and PET/CT systems with AI and workflow optimization. With established supply chains and FDA-approved cardiac tracers, Curium, Lantheus, Jubilant Radiopharma, and Bracco Imaging have also established themselves as key players in the radiopharmaceutical segment.

This market is characterized by its high entry barriers to marketing due to stringent regulatory requirements, highly specialized manufacturing processes, and radiation safety protocols. Innovation stands at the forefront as a competing factor, with continuous R&D in PET tracers and digital imaging platforms to distinguish players from one another. Strategic partnerships, regional expansions, and acquisitions such as GE’s full acquisition of Nihon Medi-Physics are taking hold of competitive positions.

Being technology-intensive, clinically driven, and sensitive to Capex, this market respects hospitals and cardiology centers wishing to sell integrated diagnostic solutions while also considering after-sales services and regulatory compliance. In this transition phase to a PET adoption-based market and decentralized models of diagnostics, vendors further have to maintain a balance between capability and cost to increase access for markets in emerging economies while preparing for the competition in mature economies.

The Nuclear Cardiology Market is segmented as follows:

By Product Type

• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Technetium-99m
• Thallium-201
• Rubidium-82
• Others
• Imaging Equipment
  • SPECT Systems
  • PET Systems
  • Hybrid Imaging Systems (SPECT/CT, PET/CT)

By Diagnostic Procedure

• Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI)
• Gated SPECT
• Cardiac PET Imaging
• Multi-Gated Acquisition (MUGA) Scan

By Indication

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Heart Failure
• Cardiomyopathy
• Valvular Heart Disease
• Others (e.g., Arrhythmias)

By End User

• Hospitals
• Cardiology Centers
• Diagnostic Imaging Centers
• Academic & Research Institutes

Regional Coverage:

North America

• U.S.
• Canada
• Mexico
• Rest of North America

Europe

• Germany
• France
• U.K.
• Russia
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Egypt
• Kuwait
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America