Computed Tomography (CT) Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

Global Computed Tomography (CT) Market Trends and Insights

Technological Advances in Detector Design & Iterative Reconstruction

Iterative reconstruction and new detector materials let clinicians achieve sub-millisievert studies while preserving diagnostic quality, cutting dose by up to 60%. Silicon photomultipliers boost photon-detection efficiency, and 0.25 mm elements now resolve coronary stents previously invisible on legacy systems.^{[2]U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Radiology Devices: Iterative Reconstruction and Dose-Reduction Guidance,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, fda.gov}

Rising Global Burden of Oncology & Cardiovascular Diseases

Cancer and cardiovascular disease caused 31 million deaths in 2024, more than half of global mortality, driving sustained CT demand for screening, staging, and perfusion studies. In oncology, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network revised its lung-cancer screening guidelines in 2024 to recommend annual low-dose CT for adults aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history, expanding the eligible U.S. population from 8 million to 14.5 million individuals 

Expansion of High-Slice & Spectral CT in Emerging Economies

Government programs in China and India mandate installation of 64-slice or higher systems, while Saudi Arabia and Brazil channel infrastructure budgets toward dual-energy platforms.^{[3]National Health Commission of China, “14th Five-Year Plan for County-Level Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Upgrades,” National Health Commission of China, nhc.gov.cn} India's Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, launched in 2021 and expanded in 2024, earmarked USD 3.2 billion to establish 17,000 health and wellness centers equipped with diagnostic imaging, including CT, by 2027. These programs favor dual-energy CT.

AI-Enabled Workflow Automation

FDA-cleared triage and segmentation algorithms now flag critical findings within seconds and trim reading time 20%-30%, easing radiologist shortages in rural regions. AI algorithms that triage urgent findings—such as intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, and aortic dissection—are compressing time-to-diagnosis and enabling radiologists to prioritize critical cases. Aidoc's FDA-cleared suite of seven CT algorithms, deployed in over 1,000 hospitals by mid-2025, flags abnormal scans within seconds and routes them to on-call radiologists via mobile alerts

High Capital & Lifecycle Costs of Premium CT Systems

Photon-counting or dual-energy scanners list between USD 1.8 million and USD 3.5 million, and tube replacements can exceed USD 250,000, steering price-sensitive buyers toward mid-slice or refurbished units.

Radiation-Dose Safety Concerns & Tightening Regulations

Cumulative radiation exposure from medical imaging remains a public-health concern, particularly for pediatric and young-adult populations. EU MDR 2017/745 now obligates dose-tracking software, and the FDA is drafting mandatory thresholds, raising compliance costs and reducing discretionary scans 

Segment Analysis

By Component: Services Gain as Hardware Commoditizes

Hardware represented 63.52% of computed tomography market revenue in 2025, but services are set to outpace with a 9.35% CAGR, reflecting hospitals’ preference for uptime guarantees and software subscriptions. Maintenance contracts deliver 35%-45% gross margins, compared with 20%-25% on hardware. Predictive maintenance programs cut downtime by 30%, reinforcing the annuity stream.

Services now absorb rising demand for iterative reconstruction upgrades, cybersecurity patches, and regulatory audits. Combined, these factors underline why vendors treat services as the anchor of the computed tomography market.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Slice Count: High-Slice Systems Lead Replacement Wave

Mid-slice platforms held 44.11% of computed tomography market share in 2025, but high-slice models will grow 10.46% annually as oncology and trauma protocols demand sub-millimeter resolution. High-slice scanners complete whole-body trauma scans in under 10 seconds, crucial for unstable patients.

Low-slice units are declining except in biopsy suites and dental practices, while cone-beam CT is carving out a niche in orthopedics thanks to compact footprints and lower cost. The computed tomography market size for high-slice platforms is projected to rise sharply once photon-counting becomes mainstream.

By Technology: Photon-Counting Disrupts Dual-Energy

Dual-energy and spectral scanners accounted for 31.34% of 2025 revenue, but photon-counting CT is projected to climb at a 10.32% CAGR to 2031, eroding legacy architectures. Photon-counting tallies individual photons, delivers intrinsic spectral data, and lowers iodine dose by 40%.

Iterative reconstruction is now table stakes, baked into nearly every new model, while AI-integrated control loops adjust tube current in real time. Hospitals weigh photon-counting benefits against reimbursement gaps, yet early adopters report sharper images at lower dose, accelerating fleet renewal. As spectral precision becomes routine, photon-counting platforms will reshape the computed tomography market share landscape.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Modality: Portable CT Accelerates in Critical Care

Stationary systems dominated shipments with an 81.54% share in 2025, but portable CT is advancing at a 10.93% CAGR as intensive-care and emergency units demand bedside imaging. Portable scanners eliminate risky patient transfers and cut time-to-diagnosis for intracranial hemorrhage by nearly 50 minutes.

COVID-19 protocols validated the point-of-care model, prompting hospitals to retain mobile fleets for infection control and critical-care efficiency. Hybrid PET-CT and SPECT-CT remain niche yet indispensable in oncology and cardiology, respectively. While stationary units stay the workhorse for routine studies, portable growth will lift computed tomography market size across critical-care corridors.

By Application: Cardiology Closes Gap on Oncology

Oncology led with 37.22% of 2025 volume, yet cardiology imaging is set to expand at an 8.63% CAGR as coronary CT angiography replaces invasive catheterization for stable chest pain. Spectral protocols quantify myocardial perfusion, reducing the need for separate nuclear studies.

Stroke guidelines now call for CT angiography and perfusion imaging for suspected large-vessel occlusion, bolstering neuro applications. Musculoskeletal trauma relies on 3-D reconstructions for surgical planning, while vascular studies remain emergency staples. Cardiology’s rapid rise is narrowing the computed tomography market share gap with oncology

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By End User: Ambulatory Centers Capture Growth

Hospitals installed 56.71% of scanners in 2025, but ambulatory surgical and specialty centers are forecast to grow at an 8.82% CAGR as procedures migrate to outpatient settings. Pay-per-scan contracts let these centers access high-slice technology without major capital outlays.

Diagnostic imaging centers leverage economies of scale and higher reimbursement for freestanding facilities, while hospital budgets face pressure from value-based care. In regions where freestanding imaging is restricted, hospitals retain dominance, yet outpatient momentum is unmistakable. Ambulatory expansion will underpin future computed tomography market size gains, especially in North America and Western Europe.

Geography Analysis

North America contributed 36.16% of computed tomography market revenue in 2025, supported by favorable reimbursement and the continent’s dense imaging network. The average installed scanner age reached 9.2 years in 2024, indicating pending replacement demand.

Asia-Pacific is the growth engine, expanding at an 8.04% CAGR as China’s health commission directs USD 12 billion toward 3,000 county-hospital installations and India’s Ayushman Bharat boosts diagnostic coverage. Local vendors United Imaging and Mindray undercut Western prices by up to 40%, accelerating penetration.

Europe shows moderate growth as MDR dose rules raise compliance costs. Germany earmarked EUR 1.2 billion for upgrades tied to dose-reduction targets, and the UK allocated GBP 400 million to cut imaging backlogs. Latin America and the Middle East showcase faster upticks from infrastructure drives in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, though currency risk tempers some procurements.