Our Team
Interventional Radiology Division — Precision Medicine Without the Scalpel
Interventional Radiology (IR) is the fusion of radiology and surgery—delivering targeted, minimally invasive treatments using advanced imaging technology. Using real-time imaging such as MRI, CT, ultrasound, and fluoroscopy, IR physicians diagnose and treat complex conditions through incisions no larger than a pinhole—offering patients faster recovery, less pain, and reduced risk compared to traditional surgery.
Subspecialty Expertise
Our interventional radiologists are certified by the American Board of Radiology in both Diagnostic Radiology and Vascular & Interventional Radiology, and recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Our IR team functions like a surgical subspecialty, providing:
- Outpatient consultations
- Pre- and post-procedural coordination
- Inpatient care for adult and pediatric patients across Southern Arizona
Procedures / Treatments
Our Interventional Radiology team performs a wide range of procedures across nearly every organ system using image-guided techniques. These include:
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
Minimally invasive treatment for knee osteoarthritis, reducing blood flow to the knee lining for pain relief
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
PAD is a vascular condition commonly diagnosed in the legs or lower extremities. It involves the progressive narrowing or blockage of arteries responsible for transporting blood from the heart to the limbs. The primary underlying cause is atherosclerosis, a process in which fatty deposits, or plaque, accumulate along the arterial walls, impeding normal blood flow and potentially leading to pain, tissue damage, or other serious complications. Treatments offered include:
| Angioplasty | Balloon inflation to open narrowed vessels |
| Stents | Metal scaffolds to keep vessels open |
| Thrombolytic Therapy | Clot-dissolving medication (tPA) delivered via catheter |
| Stent-Grafts | Fabric-covered stents to bypass diseased arteries |
Venous Disease
Venous disease is a common vascular disorder where there is high pressure buildup in the veins. Treatments are offered for the following:
| Blood clots | clots occurring in the legs, arms, internal organs, brain (cerebral vein thrombosis), kidneys (renal vein thrombosis), or lungs (pulmonary embolism) |
| Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) | a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, typically in the arms or legs. While not immediately life-threatening, it can become dangerous if the clot travels to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal complication. |
| Superficial Thrombophlebitis | a blood clot that forms in a vein near the surface of the skin. While generally not life-threatening, it can cause localized pain and discomfort. |
| Chronic venous insufficiency | a condition in which impaired vein function leads to blood pooling in the legs, resulting in swelling, elevated venous pressure, skin discoloration, and the development of venous stasis ulcers |
| Varicose and spider veins | abnormal, dilated blood vessels that happen because of weakening in your blood vessel wall |
| Venous ulcers | Ulcers are wounds or open sores that do not heal or keep returning. Venous stasis ulcers most commonly occur below the knee, on the inner part of the leg, just above the ankle. |
| Arteriovenous fistulas | Abnormal connections between arteries and veins that bypass the capillary system, disrupting normal blood flow and potentially leading to serious vascular complications |
Thyrod Pathologies
Thyroid disorders arise when the gland produces either excessive (hyperthyroidism) or insufficient (hypothyroidism) levels of hormone, disrupting metabolic balance and overall health. Interventional Radiology offers effective, minimally invasive treatment options for a wide range of thyroid-related conditions, often serving as an alternative to surgical intervention. Commonly Treated Thyroid Conditions:
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Thyroid Nodules and Tumors
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Disorders in Women
- Postpartum Thyroiditis
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) a minimally invasive treatment option performed by interventional radiology that provides an alternative to surgery for some patients with thyroid nodules. The procedure involves inserting a small needle electrode into the thyroid nodule using ultrasound guidance. Heat generated at the tip of the needle works to destroy the target tissue.
Cancer Treatments
| Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) | (HCC) is a type of liver cancer. It starts in the main type of liver cell, called a hepatocyte. |
| Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) | (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer. RCC forms in tiny tubes inside your kidneys called tubules. The tubules direct water and nutrients to your bloodstream, while filtering waste through your urine. Up to 85% of kidney cancers are RCC. |
| Metastatic colorectal cancer | Advanced-stage malignancy that originated in the colon and has traveled to other areas of the body. This is also referred to as metastatic (stage IV) colorectal cancer. |
Spinal Compression
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat vertebral compression fractures. The procedure involves the injection of special cement into vertebrae — with the additional step of creating space for the treatment with a balloon-like device (balloon vertebroplasty). Kyphoplasty can restore a damaged vertebra's height and may also relieve pain.
Fibroid Tumors
| Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) | (UAE) is an embolization procedure of uterine arteries to stop life- threatening postpartum bleeding, potentially preventing hysterectomy |
| Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) | (UFE) is an embolization procedure of uterine arteries to shrink painful, enlarged, benign tumors in the uterus |
Clinical Facilities
- Consultation & Follow-up: University of Arizona Cancer Center—an award-winning, spa-like 82,000 sq. ft. facility
- Procedures: Banner University Medical Center – Tucson campus
- Affiliated Imaging: University Medical Imaging with high-field MRI, 64-slice CT, ultrasound, and computed radiography
Why Choose Us
- Minimally invasive procedures with reduced recovery time and lower risk
- Outpatient or short-stay treatments—no general anesthesia required
- Pioneers in NanoKnife® (IRE) for non-surgical cancer treatment
- Southern Arizona’s destination for PAE (Prostate Arterial Embolization) for BPH
- Radioembolization with Y90 for metastatic liver disease
- Expert care for chronic pelvic pain due to fibroids or pelvic congestion syndrome
- Dedication to innovation and development of new treatment protocols
Appointments
Call (520) 694-1104