The BOT part concerns me as this was not an operative area. The ECE is also concerning because that means it had moved into the surrounding tissue. Ideally the surgeons get it all - but sometimes they don't since it's cellular. Try not to worry too much as PETs do give false positives. It is very possible there is healing going on in the base of tongue area as she had a trache etc... With regards to HPV etc... It actually does make a difference. HPV + cancer generally responds better to radiation and chemo so they don't always do surgery. But to me it sounds as though (based on location) that she has non HPV. Best of luck - please let us know what happens.