UVMC's Donell Nelson

October was National Mammography Month with extra awareness about breast screening.  However, the concern for breast cancer continues to November and December and even January.

Two radiology technologists at Ukiah Valley Medical Center have a mission to keep breast screening a top priority.  Holly Enzler and Donell Nelson want women, especially those who are at high risk, to know about screening options.

The most common diagnostic screening for breast cancer is mammography, according to Nelson.  Mammography uses low-dose X-rays to detect masses and microcalcifications.   Breast calcifications are calcium deposits inside breast tissue. They emerge as white spots or flecks on a mammogram and are typically so small that a person cannot feel the deposits with their fingers.

Mammography examinations of women aged 40-49 reduce breast cancer mortality by 29%, a statistically significant reduction, according to a recent issue of ScienceDaily.

As medical technology has advanced, the testing for breast cancer has evolved, as well.  Laura Winkle, a medical doctor specializing in the reading of imaging modalities at UVMC, says that an MRI of the breast offers valuable information about many breast conditions that cannot be obtained by standard tests such as mammography or ultrasound.

MRI, short for magnetic resonance imaging, is a noninvasive medical test using a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce detailed pictures of organs and soft tissues.

The images can then be examined on a computer monitor, transmitted electronically, and printed or copied on a CD for other physicians to review.

Dr. Winkle says that an MRI of the breast is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound imaging but rather a supplemental tool for detecting breast cancer and other breast abnormalities.

Both Enzler and Nelson have stories about women who have discovered breast cancers through the Breast MRI process.

“It is an important detection tool that’s available in our community,” stated Enzler.

An MRI of the breast can show breast tissue density, cysts, enlarged ducts, hematomas, enlarged lymph nodes, and even leaking or ruptured breast implants, according to Enzler.

Unlike mammography, a breast MRI requires a referral from a physician and is usually covered by most insurance plans including MediCal.

An MRI does not depend on ionizing radiation like the x-ray examinations and computed tomography (CT) scans. Instead, the outpatient procedure gains knowledge by a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce extremely clear, detailed images of the body’s structure.

A computer then processes the signals and generates a series of images each of which shows a thin slice of the body. The images can then be studied from different angles by the interpreting physician.

After a radiologist such as Dr. Winkle interprets the radiology examinations, the results are transferred via electronic medical record to the primary care or referring physician.

“The results from a breast MRI are quick and reduce anxiety of the unknown,” stated Dr. Winkle.

For more information about the Breast MRI, both Enzler and Nelson are available as resources.  They welcome women to call the Medical Imaging Department at UVMC at 707-463-7342.


Ukiah Valley Medical Center is part of Adventist Health, a not-for-profit, faith-based health care system operating in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Founded on the Seventh-day Adventist heritage of Christian health care, Adventist Health is comprised of 17 hospitals with more than 2,600 beds, approximately 18,600 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, the largest system of rural health clinics in California with additional sites in Oregon and Washington, 14 home care agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. For more information, visit www.uvmc.org.