External Beam Radiotherapy Market Size is USD 5.45 Billion in 2025 Driven by AI and LINAC Technology

The external beam radiotherapy market size surpassed USD 5.13 billion in 2024 and is predicted to reach around USD 9.36 billion by 2034, registering a CAGR of 6.19% from 2025 to 2034. The global outlook for external beam radiotherapy is witnessing robust growth due to rising cancer incidences and technological advances with IGRT and IMRT in conjunction with increased awareness of its benefits and applications.

Highlights of the External Beam Radiotherapy Market

• North America dominated the global market in 2024.
• Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period.By application insight, the linear accelerators (LINAC) segment held a dominant presence in the market in 2024 and is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034.
• By application insight, the conventional cobalt 60 teletherapy segment accounted for a considerable share of the market in 2024.
• By type insight, the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) segment led the market in 2024.
• By type insight, the image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT)segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period.
• By end-use insight, the hospital segment led the external beam radiotherapy market.
• By end-use insight, the ambulatory radiotherapy centers segment is set to experience the fastest rate of market growth from 2025 to 2034.      

External Beam Radiotherapy Market Statical Scope

The external beam radiotherapy market is a growing space where radiation treatments target tumors outside the body to treat several kinds of cancer. It is generally used in cancers of the prostate, breast, lungs, and brain. The increasing incidence of cancers across the world, coupled with the evolution of radiotherapy set to drive market growth. The looking is positive with innovations and more investments in healthcare. More equipment and infrastructure renovation have helped distinguish better treatment and better patient outcomes. Technologies that simplify treatment and workflow efficiency are intensity-modulated radiotherapy and AI. Veterinary treatment and research constitute a growing area for the market in providing treatment modalities for animals and support for clinical research efforts.

External Beam Radiotherapy Market: Stats and Figures

• In 2022, there were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths.
• Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death (1.8 million deaths, 18.7% of the total cancer deaths) followed by colorectal cancer (900 000 deaths, 9.3%), liver cancer (760 000 deaths, 7.8%), breast cancer (670 000 deaths, 6.9%) and stomach cancer (660 000 deaths, 6.8%).
• Cervical cancer was the eighth most commonly occurring cancer globally and the ninth leading cause of cancer death, accounting for 661,044 new cases and 348,186 deaths.
• About 1 in 5 people develop cancer in their lifetime, approximately 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women die from the disease.

How Has AI Benefited the External Beam Radiotherapy Market?

The introduction of AI is revolutionizing the external beam radiotherapy market to improve efficiency, its precision, and patient outcomes. Mainly automating organ segmentation, treatment planning, and dose optimization, AI streamlines workflows and shortens the planning time. AI also optimizes dose distribution for faster and better treatment planning so as to ensure the targeting of the tumors with minimal hit on healthy tissues. By doing so, it reduces variability among clinicians and ensures a better consistency in contouring and treatment planning, thereby further improving the targeting of cancer cells, reducing radiation on normal tissues, and potentially decreasing the toxicity related to treatment. This partly accounts for cost savings: reduced planning time, fewer errors, and better resource utilization. In addition, AI facilitates individualized treatment planning by analyzing patient-specific data to ensure faster recovery and an enhanced quality of life. If challenges such as ethics, validation, and training clinicians are addressed, the real power of AI in radiotherapy can be utilized, thus revolutionizing the delivery of cancer care.

External Beam Radiotherapy Market Dynamics

What Are the Major Market Drivers in The External Beam Radiotherapy Market?

The major market drivers in the external beam radiotherapy market are technological advancements in radiotherapy, the rising incidence of cancer, and increasing demand for non-invasive cancer treatments.

Rising Cancer Incidence:

Increased global incidences of cancer are stimulating the external beam radiotherapy market from such angles as lifestyle changes, environmental exposures, dietary habits, and increased awareness. With more diagnoses, the pertinence of dependable and effective treatment solutions further increases. Solid tumors in the breast, prostate, lung, and brain cancers treated by external beam radiotherapy occupy a position in the realm of oncology treatments. The rising requirement for treatment that is scalable, reliable, and easy to administer is, therefore, urging medical institutions to set up more radiotherapy infrastructure.

Governments and private establishments are also pushing to grow access to cancer care, thus increasing the market. In this backdrop, investments in next-generation radiotherapy technologies are expected to continue to remain a strategic focus in the world of healthcare.

• According to the World Health Organization, Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020.

Demand for Non-Invasive Treatments:

The demand for external beam radiotherapy increases as the focus shifts more toward considerate cancer treatment modalities. Fewer discomfort-causing processes and quicker recovery, such as external beam radiotherapy, are preferred by patients. The treatment involves transmitting a targeted dose of radiation onto a tumor from outside the patient's body, eliminating the need for incisions and keeping the physical distress of the patient to a minimum. An advancement in kinds of treatments enhanced the precision and control of the radiation used and therefore improved the treatment results with minimum side effects. Healthcare institution agendas are also based on the total patient experience, care for patient preferences, and maintaining healthy tissues. With foreseeable technological advances and patient-centered healthcare, non-invasive treatments such as external beam radiotherapy could take a front row in present therapeutic approaches to cancer.

What Are the Major Market Restraints in The External Beam Radiotherapy Market?

The growth of the external beam radiotherapy market is restrained by factors such as potential side effects, high cost of treatment and equipment procedures, and a lack of skilled personnel.
 
Treatment Side Effects:

External beam radiotherapy, while really effective, carries possible side effects that can, in relation to the willingness of the patient to undergo treatment, be far-reaching. They include feelings of exhaustion, skin eruptions, pain in the sacral region, nausea, loss of appetite, and complications of the precise organ. Even with new technology in the field that is making things more precise while reducing side effects, these concerns persist. Patients may shy away from radiotherapy for fear of long-term complications or a decrease in their quality of life. Such risks have to be managed by the medical providers, and sometimes it makes the decision process that much more difficult for both the patient and the physician. The treatment-related side effects may force interruptions or changes in treatment, potentially influencing outcomes. These issues need to be resolved in the growth of external beam radiotherapy through patient education, support, and technological amelioration.

Lack of Skilled Personnel:

A close synergy between specialists such as radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, and radiation therapists is required in external beam radiotherapy, a skill-intensive and coordinative service. In this increasingly huge global healthcare market, it becomes hard to even maintain a well-trained workforce. Since modern-day radiotherapy techniques are complex, one has to engage in continuous training and hands-on working experience to perfect them. Qualified professionals, perhaps the scarcest good available in the market, are often few and far between in areas without access to advanced medical education or specialized training programs. Such a talent gap causes delays in treatment initiation, lowers care quality, and prevents newer technology from being in. Another key actor for disparity is the unequal workforce distribution among urban and rural locations, especially in low-resource situations. It is hence essential to bridge such a gap in the professional development programs, partnerships, and education investments to provide an equitable radiotherapy option to all.

What Are the Market Opportunities in The External Beam Radiotherapy Market?

The opportunities in the external beam radiotherapy market are associated with the adoption of advanced technologies like linear accelerators (LINACs) and MR-LINACs, expanding into emerging economies, and focusing on precision and personalized treatment approaches.

Technological Advancements:

Technological advances in external beam radiotherapy have been advancing at full speed, particularly with the LINACs that feature imaging, real-time motion tracking, and artificial intelligence-based treatment planning systems. MR-LINAC stands at the technological forefront as an approach that combines magnetic resonance imaging with radiation delivery so that soft tissues can be observed in real-time. This level of technology provides an unmatched level of control for treatment accuracy for any diagnosis, especially those arising from a mobile or complicated anatomical area. Other rising technologies, such as proton therapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), have come into view as greater possibilities for treating tumors previously unmanageable to target. Investing in high-tech radiotherapy surely stands at the forefront for providers; hence, this option carries enormous promise for all stakeholders in the market at different clinical settings.

Precision and Personalized Treatment:

The external beam radiotherapy market is evolving into precision and personalized therapeutics, targeting the tumor location and type, and patient anatomical considerations. Technologies such as IMRT and SRS allow radiation to be delivered very precisely to the malignant tissues so that the normal tissues are spared, and hence the results improve. Adaptive radiation therapy uses real-time imaging and biological feedback to allow dynamic modifications during planning. Personalized radiotherapy is based on genetic profiling, imaging biomarkers, and predictive algorithms to arrive at better protocols. This means that it works better, is safer for patients, and treatment time is shortened, and while present processes might take tolls on patients to some extent, this method gravitates towards being patient-friendly and comfortable. External beam radiation therapy is being positioned to become one of the pillars of modern cancer treatment as personalized radiotherapy approaches and tools are becoming increasingly available in line with precision medicine.

• In 2025, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan inaugurated the True-Beam STx 3.0 Linear Accelerator at the KIMSHEALTH Cancer Centre, offering precision and innovation in cancer radiation therapy.

Industry Leader Announcements

• Sean Shirvani, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer at RefleXion:

“We are also buoyed by the initiation of the BIOGUIDE-X2 clinical study, designed as a multi-cohort study for patients with cancers in the liver and abdomen, as the first cohort. We are grateful to our clinical champions at all our sites for their assistance in designing and implementing this study.”

• Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal-CebuDoc Radiation Therapy Center:

“This is our commitment to providing world-class healthcare right here in the Visayas and Mindanao. By investing in cutting-edge radiation therapy technology, we aim to bring hope, healing, and healthcare excellence closer to every cancer patient in the region.”

Segmental Insights

Application Insight

The linear accelerators (LINAC) segment held a dominant presence in the external beam radiotherapy market in 2024 and is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. Accelerators or LINACs, the paramount external beam radiotherapy systems, have a number of features that make them versatile and precise as well as adaptable. These systems treat different types of cancers, including cancer of the prostate gland, breast cancer, brain tumors, lung tumors, etc. Modern LINAC systems incorporate new technology like imaging at treatment time, motion management, adaptive planning, and all the techniques to deliver dose at millimeter-level accuracy with high radiation dose. Modern LINAC systems support multiple radiotherapy methods, such as IMRT, IGRT, and SRS, which makes them the main focus of cancer treatment today. Hospitals and cancer centers are investing in LINAC systems to upgrade oncology services and provide for an increased patient load. Continued innovation and clinical validation keep the hold of the LINACs strong in the market.

The conventional cobalt 60 teletherapy segment accounted for a considerable share of the market in 2024. These units have been classified as being reliable, having low operational costs, and being comparatively easy to maintain. Hence, the setup is vital for use in developing countries where infrastructure and funding for such advanced technologies are usually lacking. It acts as an effective treatment for various tumors and requires a lower initial investment since it functions without the need for a high-energy power source. While the world is shifting towards newer technologies, cobalt systems still play a vital role in providing accessible radiotherapy to ensure that a far larger population is assisted and saved with treatment.

Type Insight

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy is a treatment for cancer due to its control of the radiation dose and the shaping of beams to match tumor size and geometry. It is used for various cancer types, including head and neck, pelvic, and prostate cancers, and is being considered standard treatment in many oncology centers. Evidence suggests that IMRT can reduce toxicity and improve patient outcomes. The technique is further enhanced when used with modern linear accelerators and in conjunction with image-guided techniques. At present, IMRT is the most widely used form of radiotherapy.

Image-guided radiation oncology, or IGRT, has grown into a fast-moving variety of radiation therapy whereby the patient is imaged before or during delivery of radiation so that the beams may be pointed with maximum precision. The accuracy is improved by adjustments for tumor motion, patient positioning, and anatomical changes occurring with time. IGRT is especially valuable in treating tumors in motion areas such as the lungs or abdomen. Using advanced imaging modalities like cone-beam CT and onboard MRI, real-time tracking and correcting can be performed to limit healthy organ exposure to radiation. The other techniques are increasingly being paired with IGRT for improved clinical results and are at the heart of individualized cancer therapy.

End-user Insight

Hospitals accounted for the largest share of the external beam radiotherapy market. External beam radiotherapy essentially markets to a hospital, owing to the large infrastructure, multidisciplinary teams, and the ability to deal with really complex cancers. These hospitals have full-fledged radiotherapy departments with all the technically advanced treatment options, such as LINACs, IGRT, and MR-LINACs, so that coordinated treatment can be provided. Hospitals also pay for research and clinical trials, which aid in the uptake of new techniques. They also act as centers of referrals for advanced cancer services, accepting large volumes of patients and carrying out diagnosis to treatment follow-ups. As investment in oncology infrastructure grows, hospitals are expected to stay at the forefront in this field.

Ambulatory Radiotherapy Centers are projected to experience the fastest growth during the forecast period. The need for efficiency, convenience, and nudging patient-centered care sees ambulatory radiotherapy centers growing rapidly in the external beam radiotherapy market. These centers treat fit patients in outpatient settings, thus treating patients with minimal hospitalization and allowing them to carry on with their usual daily routine. Due to the modern infrastructure, including LINACs and SBRT platforms, these centers ensure high-quality patient care with smaller patients waiting times and less complex workflows. They become most attractive to markets that have limited hospital capacity and suitable cost structures for their operation. Increasingly, ambulatory radiotherapy centers, with their modern approach, give the best possible access and patient-focused treatment, which remains critical for expanding the future market.

Geographical Insights

Being well-known for its healthcare infrastructure, North America is the highest market for external beam radiotherapy, an early adopter of advanced technologies, and has considerable investment in oncology research. The region contains quite a few radiotherapy centers that own very advanced equipment, and the regulatory setup and framework there encourage extensive use of radiotherapy as a cancer treatment. This led to innovations and improvements in cancer care through a collaboration between the public and private sectors. Leading manufacturers and research institutions provide further strength to the dominance of North America. Several education and awareness programs are in place, contributing to early detection and treatment uptake. With technology evolving, North America would still lend to radiation oncology leadership.

In external beam radiotherapy, the Asia Pacific is a growing market because of the rising cancer prevalence, better healthcare infrastructure, and the availability of funds for modern medical technologies. Countries need to get oncology services out to various locations through advanced radiotherapy systems in order that governments and private players can ensure adequate access to cancer care through grants, partnerships, and technologies. The region's huge availability of diverse human resources provides the main source of opportunity for market growth, while manufacturing companies coming up nearer home make the equipment truly affordable and accessible locally. Capacity building for strengthening training of the workforce, together with international best practice adoption, has thus come to the very forefront of radiotherapy transformation, thereby becoming the prime growth engine for the global radiotherapy market.

Recent Developments in the External Beam Radiotherapy Market:

• In July 2025, GenesisCare, the UK's top cancer care provider, reopened its Nottingham facility, featuring the second Elekta EVO linear accelerator in its network.
• In January 2025, RefleXion Medical initiates the BIOGUIDE-X2 clinical study to expand SCINTIX bio-guided radiotherapy indications at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center, partnering with Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Competitive Landscape

The external beam radiotherapy market is moderately fragmented with local players like Varian Medical Systems Inc., Elekta AB, Accuray Incorporated, Ion Beam Applications (IBA), Nordion Inc., C. R. Bard Inc., etc., wishing to take the time to edge their presence through investments, partnerships, acquisitions, and mergers. They also invest in product development and competitive pricing. These strategies will promote market growth and lucrative opportunities for market players

• Company Name: Ion Beam Applications
• Year of Incorporation: 1986
• Headquarters: Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

In 2024, the company reported a revenue of €498 million, with a notable 7% increase compared to the previous year. The company also returned to profitability with a net result of €9.3 million.

• Company Name: Varian Medical Systems Inc
• Year of Incorporation: 1948
• Headquarters: Palo Alto, California

The company's revenue history from 2001 to 2020 shows a general upward trend, with revenues reaching ₹286.43 billion in 2019, a slight decrease from ₹257.78 billion in 2018.

• Company Name: Elekta AB
• Year of Incorporation: 1972
• Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden

Elekta AB's revenue for the trailing twelve months (TTM) is $1.72 billion USD. In the fiscal year 2024, their revenue was $1.64 billion USD, a decrease from $1.72 billion USD in 2023.