The global anatomic pathology market size was USD 35.6 Bn in 2021 and is anticipated to reach USD 69.6 Bn in 2031, growing at a rate of 6.9% from 2022 to 2031.

Anatomical pathology is the branch of medicine that comprises the study of body organs and tissues. Anatomical pathology is considered one of the diagnostic branches of medicine, coupled with radiology and other pathology specialties (such as microbiology and chemical pathology). Its roles comprise determining the cause of certain diseases and the effect that they are having on the body, assisting with the choice of treatment that will be given, aiding in giving a prognosis, and determining what may have caused a person’s death.

Scope of the Report

Global Anatomic Pathology Market Drivers

Rising incidence of cancer and other target diseases

Cancer is a leading cause of death across the globe, which accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. The most common cancer are breast, lung, colon and rectum, and prostate cancers. Around one-third of cancer deaths are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity. Like HPV and hepatitis, cancer-causing infections are responsible for approximately 30% of cancer cases in low and lower-middle-income countries. Many cancers can be cured if detected early and treated effectively.

Global Anatomic Pathology Market Opportunities

The increasing number of clinical trials pertaining to cancer drugs

Anatomic pathology products and services are used in oncology drug trials to analyze quantitative information as well as to detect morphological structures, detect pharmacodynamic markers, and understand drug mechanisms. It is also used to stratify trial subjects based on the responses given by tissues to the drugs. Tissue diagnostics thus facilitate efficient trials and retrospective studies by reducing the cost and time involved in these processes. For instance, in a Phase III study for Roche’s cancer immunotherapy—TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab)—the PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) expression was evaluated using an investigational immunohistochemistry (IHC) test, which was developed by Roche Tissue Diagnostics.

Global Anatomic Pathology Market Restraints

Availability of refurbished products

The availability of refurbished anatomic pathology instruments is a major challenge to the growth of the global anatomic pathology market. LabX (US), AL-TAR (US), Rankin Biomedical Corporation (US), and Swerdlick Medical Systems (US) are some companies offering refurbished anatomic pathology instruments like tissue processors, and staining systems, and microtomes. A number of end-users—mainly small and medium-sized laboratories—look for cost-effectiveness and opt for refurbished systems, particularly in the price-sensitive markets in developing economies. Considering these factors, the demand for refurbished anatomic pathology instruments is likely to increase in the upcoming years, as these systems offer the same functionalities as new equipment at lower costs. This is likely to hamper the revenue of companies offering branded anatomic pathology instruments in the market.

Impact of COVID-19 on Anatomic Pathology Market

Worldwide, the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted every aspect of the diagnostics industry, comprising the anatomic pathology market. In the last few months, the number of patient visits to hospitals has lowered significantly, despite emergency and OPD services being available in hospitals.

Cancer patients have emerged as one of the worst affected patient groups in the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the number of patients undertaking cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The raised pressure owing to the increasing rate of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients had led to the re-profiling of many hospitals and departments, comprising oncology clinics, for treating patients with COVID-19.

Anatomic Pathology Market Segmental Analysis

The report covers the anatomic pathology market by products & services, applications, end-users, and geography.

Anatomic Pathology Market by Products & Services

The various products & services comprised in the global anatomic pathology market are services, consumables, and instruments. The services segment is also sub-segmented into histopathology and cytopathology. The consumables segment is also sub-segmented into antibodies, kits & reagents, probes, and others. Likewise, the instruments segment is also sub-segmented into slide staining systems, tissue processing systems, cell processors, microtomes, embedding systems, cover slippers, and others.

The services segment is likely to hold a major market share during the forecast period. The key factors boosting market growth are the rising geriatric population coupled with increasing incidences of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Anatomic Pathology Market by Application

The various applications comprised in the global anatomic pathology market are disease diagnostics and medical research. The disease diagnostics segment is sub-segmented into cancer and other diseases.

The disease diagnostics segment is likely to hold a major market share during the forecast period. The key factors propelling the market growth are the increasing incidence of cancer and other diseases coupled with growing geriatric populations.

Anatomic Pathology Market by End Users

The end users comprised in the global anatomic pathology market are hospital laboratories, clinical laboratories, and others.

The hospital laboratories are likely to hold a majority of the market share during the forecast period. The market growth of the segment is attributed to the increasing number of patient visits to hospitals, increasing number of in-house diagnostic procedures performed in hospitals, increasing awareness regarding early disease diagnosis, and the availability of reimbursement in the developed market for clinical tests performed in hospitals.

Geographical Analysis of Global Anatomic Pathology Market

The global anatomic pathology market is studied for key countries of the regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.

North America is likely to hold the majority of the market share of the global anatomic pathology market. The key factors boosting market growth are the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising healthcare expenditure, and the high-quality infrastructure for hospitals and clinical laboratories.

Market Players of Global Anatomic Pathology Market

The key players in the global anatomic pathology market are F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Danaher Corporation, PHC Holdings Corporation, Beckton, Dickson and Company, Abcam plc., Hologic, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Merck KGaA, Sakura Finetek, Bio SB, BioGenex, Milestone Medical, Histo-Line Laboratories, Diapath S.p.A, SLEE medical GmbH, Amos Scientific Pty Ltd, MEDITE Medical GmbH, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., CellPath Ltd., Jinhua Yidi Medical Equipment Co., Ltd., MICROS AUSTRIA, R. K. SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, Lupetec, Medimeas, and Bright Instruments among others.

Key Developments in Global Anatomic Pathology Market

• May 2021: Hologic received FDA approval for ThinPrep Genesis processor. The new instrument streamlines these workflows with advanced automation capabilities comprising a chain of custody verification, which prevents misidentification and allows for more confidence in results.
• June 2019: PHC Holdings announced the completion of its acquisition of the Anatomical Pathology business of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.