More PET info: I may have been off on the cost - I have heard up to $8,000.00 for a scan. This info is from: http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/surgery/EsophagealCarcinoma/05Squamous.html

Brenton L. Harris, B.A.
Kemp H. Kernstine, M.D.
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
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Distant metastases can be evaluated by PET, CT, ultrasound, laparoscopy, or bronchoscopy, depending upon the location and size of the metastases.
The best technology today, outside of invasive surgical staging for distant metastases, is PET. PET is 88% sensitive, 93% specific and 71-91% accurate for identifying distant metastasis. Overall, PET can identify distant metastases in up to 20% of patients that received negative diagnosis with conventional staging.

Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)