Global Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecasts 2031

Key Findings

• Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) delivers targeted radiation directly to a tumor site during surgery, minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

• IORT is primarily used for treating cancers such as breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and gynecological, where immediate and focused radiation improves therapeutic outcomes.

• The demand for IORT is growing due to its ability to reduce total radiation dosage, accelerate recovery, and improve local tumor control.

• Technological advancements in mobile linear accelerators, low-energy X-ray devices, and robotic assistance are expanding the scope of IORT.

• Hospitals and cancer specialty centers are the largest adopters of IORT systems, often integrating them into hybrid operating rooms.

• Key players include ZEISS Group, iCAD Inc., IntraOp Medical Corporation, Sordina IORT Technologies, and Varian Medical Systems.

• North America leads in market share due to early technology adoption and established oncology infrastructure, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific.

• Clinical trials and reimbursement support for IORT-based treatments in breast and rectal cancers are further accelerating global deployment.

• The shift toward value-based healthcare is driving interest in IORT for its single-session, cost-effective cancer management benefits.

• IORT is increasingly viewed as a strategic component in multimodal cancer treatment strategies, often used alongside chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Market Overview

The Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) market is a niche but rapidly evolving segment of the cancer treatment landscape. IORT involves delivering a concentrated dose of ionizing radiation directly to a tumor bed during surgery, often immediately after tumor excision. This approach offers the distinct advantage of sparing healthy tissues and organs, as the radiation can be precisely targeted with real-time visualization and surgical access.

The technology is gaining momentum as cancer centers worldwide seek more efficient, precise, and cost-effective therapeutic modalities. IORT significantly reduces treatment time by condensing weeks of post-operative radiation therapy into a single session. This not only improves patient comfort and compliance but also lowers overall healthcare costs. Furthermore, IORT is particularly valuable in treating tumors located near sensitive organs or in areas previously exposed to radiation.

Market expansion is being driven by innovation in mobile electron linear accelerators (LINACs), portable X-ray systems, and intraoperative imaging technologies. As clinical evidence grows around its efficacy in managing various cancer types, IORT is transitioning from being a highly specialized offering to a standard option in oncology workflows.

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy Market Size and Forecast

The global IORT market was valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 3.4 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 17.6% during the forecast period.

This growth is being fueled by rising global cancer incidence, particularly in aging populations, along with technological improvements in radiation oncology equipment. Favorable reimbursement structures in developed markets and ongoing trials demonstrating improved local control and survival rates are also supporting adoption.

Emerging economies are showing rising interest in compact, mobile IORT platforms due to their lower infrastructural requirements and the ability to deliver effective care in decentralized or resource-constrained settings.

Future Outlook

The future of the IORT market is characterized by increasing integration into multidisciplinary cancer treatment strategies. As surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology continue to converge, IORT will be central in achieving superior tumor control while reducing systemic side effects.

Over the next five years, artificial intelligence and image-guided precision systems will enhance intraoperative planning, dose adjustment, and beam alignment. Additionally, next-generation mobile accelerators will become lighter and more maneuverable, making IORT more feasible across smaller hospitals and rural centers.

Personalized cancer treatment pathways will increasingly incorporate IORT for patients with high risk of local recurrence or previous radiation exposure. As clinical outcomes and cost savings become more evident, IORT may be adopted as a frontline modality in select cancer protocols globally.

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy Market Trends

• Adoption in Breast Cancer Treatment:
  IORT is increasingly adopted as a breast-conserving therapy, allowing patients to receive radiation during lumpectomy, avoiding prolonged external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). This trend is supported by favorable clinical trials like TARGIT-A and ELIOT, which show comparable outcomes with fewer side effects and higher patient satisfaction.

• Advancements in Mobile Linear Accelerators:
  Mobile LINAC systems now offer compact footprints, shielding innovations, and faster treatment cycles, making them easier to install and operate in standard ORs. These systems improve workflow efficiency and minimize patient transfers, enhancing safety and throughput in high-volume oncology centers.

• Integration with Robotic Surgery:
  Robotic-assisted surgeries in urology, gynecology, and colorectal oncology are increasingly incorporating IORT. This integration allows for highly targeted radiation delivery in complex anatomies and improves precision when tumors are close to critical structures, reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

• Use in Recurrent and Hard-to-Treat Cancers:
  IORT is gaining traction in managing recurrent cancers, especially where prior radiation limits further EBRT exposure. Tumors in rectal, brain, and soft tissue sarcoma cases benefit from IORT's localized approach, offering curative potential where conventional options are limited.

Market Growth Drivers

• Growing Cancer Burden Worldwide:
  With global cancer incidence projected to exceed 29 million cases by 2040, demand for faster and more effective treatments is escalating. IORT offers a promising alternative for select patients, especially those with localized tumors or needing accelerated therapy options.

• Patient-Centric Treatment Models:
  IORT aligns with value-based healthcare by reducing hospital visits, lowering recurrence rates, and improving quality of life. It provides a single-dose treatment, often eliminating the need for 5–6 weeks of post-operative radiation, enhancing patient convenience and health system efficiency.

• Favorable Clinical Evidence and Guidelines:
  Multiple studies have validated the safety and efficacy of IORT in reducing local recurrence rates, especially in early-stage breast and colorectal cancers. As a result, national cancer guidelines are beginning to include IORT as a viable treatment pathway, increasing its clinical acceptance.

• Government and Institutional Funding:
  Public and private healthcare systems in North America and Europe are investing in IORT infrastructure and supporting trials for expanding its clinical utility. Funding initiatives aim to reduce the treatment burden on public hospitals and improve surgical oncology capabilities in rural areas.

• Technological Miniaturization and Portability:
  Innovation in X-ray based IORT platforms has led to lighter and more portable systems that don't require complex shielding. These developments make IORT accessible for smaller cancer centers, promoting equitable oncology care even in low-resource settings.

Challenges in the Market

• High Initial Capital and Maintenance Costs:
  The procurement and installation of IORT systems, especially LINAC-based setups, can be cost-prohibitive for many healthcare facilities. Additionally, shielding, training, and maintenance costs limit adoption, particularly in developing regions or low-volume hospitals.

• Limited Clinical Indications and Protocols:
  IORT is currently limited to specific cancer types and lacks broad clinical protocols, reducing its applicability across general oncology practice. Wider adoption requires more robust data and inclusion in national treatment guidelines for various cancers.

• Workforce Training and Infrastructure Requirements:
  Successful implementation of IORT demands multidisciplinary expertise and coordination among surgeons, radiation oncologists, physicists, and technicians. This need for skilled personnel and integrated surgical-radiotherapy infrastructure poses logistical and operational challenges.

• Reimbursement Barriers in Emerging Markets:
  Many countries, especially in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, lack clear reimbursement pathways for IORT, making it financially unviable for both providers and patients. Delayed insurance approvals further slow down the pace of adoption despite demonstrated clinical benefits.

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy Market Segmentation

By Technology

• Electron-based IORT Systems

• X-ray Based IORT Systems

• Mobile Linear Accelerators

• Robotic-assisted IORT Systems

By Application

• Breast Cancer

• Colorectal Cancer

• Pancreatic Cancer

• Head & Neck Cancer

• Gynecological Cancers

• Sarcomas

• Other Solid Tumors

By End-user

• Hospitals

• Cancer Treatment Centers

• Ambulatory Surgery Centers

• Academic and Research Institutions

By Region

• North America

• Europe

• Asia-Pacific

• Latin America

• Middle East & Africa

Leading Key Players

• ZEISS Group

• IntraOp Medical Corporation

• Sordina IORT Technologies

• Varian Medical Systems (Siemens Healthineers)

• iCAD Inc.

• GMV Innovating Solutions

• Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG

• Mobius Medical Systems

• Elekta AB

• Isoray Medical

Recent Collaborations

• ZEISS partnered with leading oncology clinics in Germany and the UK to validate its INTRABEAM system for early-stage breast and brain tumors through extended clinical trials.

• IntraOp Medical Corporation collaborated with Stanford Health to deploy its next-gen Mobetron IORT LINAC for pancreatic and colorectal applications in hybrid ORs.

• Sordina IORT Technologies entered a joint development agreement with Italian radiotherapy groups to co-design mobile IORT units suitable for surgical integration in rural hospitals.

• Varian Medical Systems launched a pilot program across U.S. academic centers to study IORT’s effectiveness in recurrent head and neck cancer patients.

• iCAD Inc. expanded its European presence through a distribution agreement with oncology networks in France and Spain to promote its low-energy X-ray IORT devices.

This Market Report will Answer the Following Questions

• How many Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) systems are manufactured per annum globally? Who are the sub-component suppliers in different regions?

• Cost breakdown of a global Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) system and key vendor selection criteria

• Where is the Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) system manufactured? What is the average margin per unit?

• Market share of global Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) system manufacturers and their upcoming products

• Cost advantage for OEMs who manufacture Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) systems in-house

• Key predictions for the next 5 years in the global Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) system market

• Average B2B Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) system market price in all segments

• Latest trends in the Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) market, by every market segment

• The market size (both volume and value) of the Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) market in 2025–2031 and every year in between

• Production breakup of the Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) market, by suppliers and their OEM relationship