Scans at Mass General, Wednesday, 15 Dec 2004

	There were two scans done that day, using three different
contrast media.  In between I also had a thorough physical exam by
my radiation oncologist.  

	The CT scan of the neck required two contrast fluids.
	The first was injected into the spinal column at L4/5 and I 
was literally tipped  (about 20 degrees) to get the fluid to flow into
the cervical spine.  This was needed to provide good definition of the
spinal cord.  This "lumbar installation" took about an hour.
	More typically the other fluid was injected intravenously
during the actual scan.   However, this injection was done at a more
rapid pace than usual but over a shorter tine period ... just that
necessary for the CT scan frames.

	I was pronounced  "remarkably intact" given
the amount of surgery I had done in October.

	The MRI was done at an outside firm near MGH.  The
radiation oncologists at MGH
dictated the "protocol" which was about twice as long as a typical
neck/cervical MRI.  This involved the usual contrast agent.

	The scans seemed to go well and the doctors and the technician
were pleased with the quality (CT nd MRI, respectively).

	Unfortunately, these studies showed tumor along the right
vetebral artery.  The location (difficult) led the MGH staff to conclude
that additional surgery at this time was not appropriate and that
we should start radiation therapy 10 January, as planned.

	Earlier that day, while waiting for the installation to be set 
up, I also had X-rays taken of the stabilization hardware in my neck.