Thursday, March 31, 2011

DOPA Pet scan

3/29/11
Mark was finally able to go in for the DOPA PET scan today. This procedure is supposed to give a really clear picture of what is going on and identify tumor or not.

It is actually an experimental procedure and is not widely performed. They need to create radioactive isotopes to inject and read through the scan. They are very unstable and difficult to make. Because it is so difficult, they only do this once a week for a small number of hours/patients (which is why it was so hard to get us in). Mark is radioactive for the day, so no kissing babies or pregnant women for 24 hrs ;)

There are only two places in the US that have the equipment to do a DOPA PST scan. UCLA actually invented the procedure and has the equipment. Anyone who wants to be trained in its use has to go through UCLA. There's another place in Florida that has the equipment as well.

We'll be talking to Dr. C tomorrow about the results and ask the other questions that we've been loading up.