9 trends to watch in diagnostic imaging
Experts are sharing nine trends to watch in diagnostic radiology for 2025.
Consulting firm Vizient is forecasting continued growth in the specialty, driven by shifts in where patients receive care, new therapies that require imaging and a rapidly aging population. Amid increasing demand, radiology leaders also must navigate workforce shortages, sustainability concerns, and calls to improve patient access.
“For healthcare executives and imaging leaders, understanding these trends is crucial,” report authors Adam Fairbourn, MBA, senior director of capital equipment solutions, and Gurmeet Bawa, MS, consulting director, intelligence Vizient/Sg2, wrote June 3. “Imaging is a cornerstone of modern medicine, and its growth will impact everything from hospital budgets to patient outcomes.”
Here is a quick rundown of the list. Radiology Business added the numbers, as Vizient did not rank each item in order of importance. You can find the full report for free here and our coverage of last year’s trends here.
1. Advanced imaging modalities driving growth: Vizient company Sg2 is forecasting standard outpatient imaging volumes will grow by about 10% over the next decade while advanced imaging will climb 14%. PET is projected to lead the way at 23%, followed by ultrasound (16%) and CT (15%).
“For healthcare leaders, this means planning for more advanced imaging technology and the infrastructure to support them in multiple locations,” the authors advised. “The bottom line: As imaging technology improves, both patients and doctors expect more. This leads to a cycle where advanced CT, MRI and PET imaging increases overall demand.”
2. Shifting sites of care beyond the hospital: A “clear trend” in recent years is the push to deliver imaging in less costly, more convenient community settings. Vizient estimates that outpatient imaging growth is outpacing the overall radiology market, with about 40% of all imaging volumes now performed in outpatient centers rather than acute-care hospitals.
“Executives are investing in smaller-footprint, high-performance imaging equipment that can fit in clinics or even in a mobile trailer,” Fairbourn and Bawa wrote. “They bring critical imaging services like mammography or stroke diagnostics directly to patients in need,” they added later. “The setting of care is no longer one-size-fits-all, and successful imaging programs are meeting patients where they are.”
3. New treatments require more imaging: Newly approved Alzheimer’s treatments come with “strict” imaging requirements, including an initial PET scan to check for the presence of amyloid and multiple MRIs to monitor side effects. Likewise, new theranostics require advanced imaging to select patients and monitor treatment.
“For healthcare providers, this trend underscores the importance of having the right imaging technology and capacity to support cutting-edge treatments. Whether it’s an Alzheimer’s infusion that needs MRI monitoring or a cancer theranostic that requires PET imaging, the technology must be in place.”
4. Greener imaging: A push for sustainability: Amid rising volumes, there has been a movement toward “green radiology” as departments seek to save energy, reduce waste and cut costs. Examples include MRI systems with helium-free magnets and CT scanners with power-saving features.
“While sustainability might not have been a traditional focus of radiology, today it’s becoming part of strategic planning,” Vizient experts advised. “Executives recognize that pursuing eco-friendly imaging practices isn’t just good for the planet, it can also reduce operating costs (through energy savings) and appeal to socially conscious patients and staff. Expect to see ‘green’ considerations increasingly woven into imaging service decisions, from capital purchases to department policies.”
5. Innovating and supporting the imaging workforce: Much has been made about staffing challenges in radiology, a trend that showed up in previous Vizient reports. Leaders have responded by utilizing solutions such as remote-scanning technology, allowing technologists to operate equipment from a separate location. Still, only around 7% of health systems have implemented it in practice. Other solutions have included artificial intelligence, along with a renewed focus on strengthening the imaging talent pipeline.
“The takeaway for executives is that workforce challenges can be met with a combination of innovation and support,” Fairbourn and Bawa wrote. “This involves using AI and remote scanning, as well as training and recruitment. This approach ultimately makes the imaging workforce more resilient and effective.”
6. Radiopharmaceuticals: Pipeline growth and supply challenges: The pipeline of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals continues to mature, including new radiotracers for PET scans and therapies such as Pluvicto for prostate cancer. This has led to a “surge” of investment in the radiopharma space. At the same time, rapid growth has led to some “supply chain vulnerabilities,” with many of these drugs relying on a limited number of production sites.
“For healthcare executives, the radiopharmaceutical boom means preparing for greater use of nuclear medicine,” experts advised. “This involves investing in PET scanners, hot labs, and trained staff. Additionally, they need to advocate for solutions to supply bottlenecks and reimbursement. It’s an exciting frontier.”
7. Improving patient access and health parity in imaging: Disparities in imaging access and utilization are “well documented,” with rural communities often facing fewer imaging facility options and longer wait times. The industry has responded by deploying mobile imaging units and smaller systems that are more scalable.
“Many imaging providers are making parity a core part of their mission,” the authors wrote. “They’re investing in training, technology, and programs to address equity in advanced imaging. The message is clear: imaging must be accessible to all who need it. By innovating care delivery and actively reaching out to under-imaged populations, the healthcare system is striving to ensure that the benefits of modern diagnostics are shared broadly, helping to close gaps in outcomes.”
8. Advocacy and patient outreach: Professional organizations are pushing for policies at state houses and in Washington that support sustainable imaging expansion. This is “especially important,” the authors contend, given downward pressure on radiology reimbursement, along with increased FDA scrutiny around medical devices.
“This advocacy is important for sustaining the expected growth in imaging. It’s also critical for ensuring patients are educated and have access to important imaging and treatment options,” the authors wrote. “Given the combination of challenges, rapidly advancing technology, and new therapies, strong national advocacy and patient education programs [are] projected to expand,” they added later.
9. Data enabled technology planning: A need to replace outdated equipment, coupled with requests for new advanced technologies, have forced imaging providers to become more sophisticated with strategic planning. To do so, they are organizing equipment and technology committees and crafting detailed equipment replacement plans.
“Remarkably, the resources available today allow for as much or as little flexibility the organization prefers in a governance model for imaging technology acquisition when the right strategy is set in place,” the authors wrote. “This is crucial because many organizations lack the clinical and administrative resources to manage procurement, making innovation necessary to achieve their goals. Governance of AI procurement, implementation, and use is top of mind for most imaging providers. They must consider risks, rewards, and return on investment for deploying AI solutions.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.