Radiology Ltd: A Century of Imaging Care in Southern Arizona
Radiology Ltd and Its Tucson Roots
Radiology Ltd is a long-standing medical imaging practice serving Tucson and Southern Arizona. It combines specialist knowledge, modern equipment, and patient-focused care. The practice provides outpatient imaging, professional radiology services, and interventional procedures for patients, doctors, hospitals, and health organizations. Its services help people receive important tests close to home, often with flexible appointment times.
The practice has grown with Tucson’s health system and helped introduce new forms of imaging to the region. Its history reflects the move from basic X-rays to MRI, CT, PET, digital mammography, ultrasound, and image-guided treatment.
The Beginning of Radiology Ltd
The story began in 1933 when Dr Edward Hayden started a private radiology practice. A 1925 graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School, he completed postgraduate diagnostic X-ray training at the Mayo Clinic and Stanford University. He led X-ray work at the Desert Sanatorium, later Tucson Medical Center.
Dr Hayden continued interpreting X-rays for the sanatorium while building the practice. By 1939, he worked from shared offices at 115 South Stone Avenue, covering X-ray, radium, and pathology.
Building a Strong Medical Partnership
Growth continued in 1946 when Dr Arthur Present joined Dr Hayden. By 1959, the group had moved to 1603 North Tucson Boulevard and grown to eight radiologists, including Herbert David Welsh, Walter T. Hileman, John A. Wilson, Frank Goodrich, André Bruwer, and James Nauman.
The doctors supported St Mary’s Hospital, Tucson Medical Center, and Southern Pacific Hospital. They also worked at Pima County Hospital and consulted for the Veterans’ Hospital and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. These links helped establish the practice within Tucson’s healthcare network.
Quick Information Chart
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Radiology Ltd |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Founder | Dr Edward Hayden |
| Headquarters | Tucson, Arizona, USA |
| Industry | Medical Imaging and Radiology |
| Service Area | Southern Arizona |
| Website | radltd.com |
| Medical Experts | 45+ subspecialised radiologists |
| Staff | 400+ employees |
| Main Services | MRI, CT, PET, X-ray, ultrasound, DEXA and mammography |
| Special Services | Interventional radiology and women’s imaging |
| Support Partner | Lumexa Imaging |
| Corporate Office | 677 N Wilmot Road, Tucson, Arizona |
Radiology Ltd Through Decades of Change
During the 1960s, the group expanded its work with the new St Joseph’s Hospital. As radiology changed, doctors trained in special procedures began supporting complex examinations. The partnership recruited physicians with skills that later became known as interventional radiology.
At the start of the 1970s, the group officially adopted the name Radiology Ltd. It added hospital relationships, including El Dorado Hospital. In 1975, Tucson Medical Center acquired Southern Arizona’s first CT scanner, and Radiology Ltd physicians interpreted the examinations.
In 1976, the practice began performing diagnostic ultrasound, expanding examinations of organs, blood vessels, and developing babies without ionizing radiation. During the 1980s, it helped bring MRI services to Tucson. When Tucson Medical Center acquired an MRI machine, the group’s physicians read its scans.
Digital Progress in the 1990s and 2000s
The 1990s brought major progress. Northwest Diagnostic Imaging introduced MRI to Northwest Hospital, while St Joseph’s Imaging Center brought it to St Joseph’s Hospital. Tucson Imaging Associates added Tucson’s first open MRI, and breast MRI became part of the region’s services.
Radiology Ltd became an early technology leader by introducing PACS, a digital system for storing and sharing medical images. It made scan review easier for doctors. In 1999, the practice became the first in Tucson to provide interventional neuroradiology services, while St Joseph’s Imaging Center expanded its advanced imaging role.
The 2000s brought further expansion. Rancho Vistoso opened in Oro Valley in 2003, and the practice began offering full-field digital mammography. In 2004, the Wilmot office opened as a fully digital imaging center, followed by La Cholla. Camp Lowell later added CT and PET services. Carondelet opened in 2008, and Midvale Imaging Center opened in 2009 for southwest Tucson.
Services Offered by Radiology Ltd
Today, the practice provides diagnostic and treatment services. MRI is available for many body areas, with wide-bore and open-bore options for people who feel uneasy in small spaces. Some centers also provide 3T MRI, which creates detailed views of small body structures.
CT services support fast, detailed examinations. The practice also provides CT lung screening, CT colonography, cardiac CTA, and CT calcium scoring. PET imaging helps assess disease activity, ultrasound serves many radiation-free clinical needs, and DEXA scans measure bone density for osteoporosis care.
Digital X-ray remains important for everyday diagnosis. Women’s imaging centers provide mammography, 3D mammography, breast MRI, and other specialist examinations. Interventional radiology guides procedures such as joint injections, lumbar puncture, chest port placement, paracentesis, thoracentesis, myelography, kyphoplasty, and vertebroplasty.
A Patient-Focused Experience
The practice values convenience as well as technical quality. Many centers offer extended hours, with some providing evening or weekend appointments. Online scheduling and mobile access help patients arrange care and prepare for visits. Selected locations offer walk-in X-rays; MRI, CT, ultrasound, and mammography usually require appointments.
Radiology Ltd Today
The practice now operates 11 accredited diagnostic imaging centers across Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, and nearby communities. Locations include Alvernon, Camp Lowell, Carondelet, Green Valley Casa Verde, Green Valley Continental, La Cholla, Midvale, Rancho Vistoso, Rincon, St Mary’s Medical Plaza, and Wilmot. The Wilmot site at 677 North Wilmot Road also serves as the corporate office.
The organization includes more than 45 fellowship-trained, subspecialized radiologists and over 400 staff members. Its doctors cover areas such as body imaging, women’s imaging, interventional radiology, molecular imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, and neuroradiology. The group also provides continuous coverage for hospitals in Southern Arizona and works with health systems that need specialist radiology support.
Its long-term presence also supports local doctors by giving them dependable access to skilled imaging teams and carefully maintained equipment.
The Lumexa Imaging Connection
Radiology Ltd is a physician-led practice supported by Lumexa Imaging. This relationship gives the local team access to wider operational resources, technology, and experience while preserving a strong clinical focus in Southern Arizona. Lumexa Imaging operates outpatient imaging centers in many states and works with radiologists and health systems to expand access to diagnostic care.
The connection supports investment in equipment, digital systems, staff development, and patient services. It also helps the Tucson practice remain locally focused while benefiting from a larger healthcare network.
Radiology Ltd and the Future of Imaging
In 2023, the practice celebrated 90 years of service in Southern Arizona. By 2026, it was continuing to improve access through new MRI, ultrasound, CT, DEXA, and mammography equipment at multiple centers. A second PET imaging location was also added to serve more patients across the region.
These changes show how the practice continues to adapt to medical needs. New equipment can improve image quality, shorten appointment times, and support more precise diagnosis. At the same time, trained professionals remain central to safe and meaningful care. Technology can create a clear scan, but specialist judgment is needed to understand what that scan means for a patient.
A Lasting Role in Southern Arizona
From Dr Hayden’s first practice in 1933 to its modern network of imaging centers, Radiology Ltd has grown alongside Tucson. Its history includes hospital partnerships, new imaging methods, digital innovation, women’s health services, interventional treatment, and community care. Its continuing investment in people and technology places it in a strong position for the future.
For patients, the main value is access to many imaging services through a familiar regional provider. For doctors and hospitals, the practice offers specialist interpretation and advanced support. Its long record of service, local knowledge, and continuing development explain why it remains an important part of healthcare in Southern Arizona.
