@Charm,
I am not say a PET-CT is inappropriate for Cheryl.

I really don't have an opinion, but the NCCN guidelines seem to set "as a minimum" a CT and/or MRI with contrast for "Workup" diagnostics when the initial stage is thought to be I or II.

Beyond stage II they say to consider a PET-CT (instead of a CT or MRI), so they are definitely regarding a PET-CT as a more appropriate scan for "Workups".

The guidelines show options and based on the initial "Workup" and staging of T1-2N0M0, surgery to excise the primary and a ND are shown as an option to RT.

The guidelines then show additional options which may still include RT and/or Chemo-RT based on the surgical margins, or other adverse surgical findings.

I am not familiar with a PET-CT being used for the RT planning. My RT planning scan was done on a different CT and my PET-CT's have all been diagnostic.

We probably need to remember that these guidelines are written for accredited CCC's that have PET-CT capabilities.