Head & neck PET scan cancer detection accuracy is more like 87%, compared to 67% for conventional imaging.

+"PET equipment isn't able to reliably detect tumors smaller than 0.7 centimeters. For the smallest lesions, detectable at 2-3 millimeters through CT technology, diagnosis usually relies on observation."

Colorectal has a 94% accuracy and that is the highest accuracy acheivable to date with PET.

The following is an extract from an article about PET/CT:
++"The PET-CT procedure superimposes the PET image, which shows metabolically active sites in the body, on the CT image, which shows the anatomic map of the body to localise abnormal function in the body. This combined image allows doctors to pinpoint the disease areas with a combined 98% accuracy. These scans are highly sensitive and can detect small lesions in the body. CT scans alone have 60% accuracy while PET scans are 90% accurate." <<I was not able to validate the numbers cited in this article.>>


+Stanford Report, February 28, 2001
++Dr Felix Sundram, SGH Head of Department of Nuclear Medicine

Thanks for all of the input. The seminal question I need to ask the ENT on the 27th is "If it isn't cancer, what is it and what do we do about it?"

I understand that PET and CT are not necessarily conclusive. When my ENT did the physical exam and the endoscope, he noted the fullness of the tongue base, which was soft. The CT picked up the two lumps at the tongue base, each of which is just under 1 cm. Wouldn't the PET have shown that these were metabolically active?

As was said in the posts, just a series of hurdles. I am going to do what is necessary to insure that we get to the bottom of this. While my initial elation is tempered by what I have read, my anxiety level has dropped, which is a good thing.

Thanks again for all the support and wisdom. I'll keep you posted.

Jeff

Jeff,

You have an EXCELLENT attitude! You have enough knowledge to keep your dr's on their toes. Please realize the common thread here is diligence, and you clearly will follow through and that is great!

Hi Jeff,
just to reiterate what Mark said, we are not trying to scare the crap out of you, just to insure diligence and thoroughness (we wish we COULD scare the crap out of Eric from Arizona :p ).

On a more serious note, I had many health care professionals in my mouth for months before I got an accurate Dx and it is very likely that it had a major effect on my staging. I am not the only one here that this has happened to.

Since oral cancer is not the kind of disease that EVER gets better on its own, we always tend to advise the most accurate and early diagnosis possible by the most qualified individuals (if at all possible at a comprehensive cancer center). It is the best life insurance policy there is. On ALL of the cancers showing statistical survival improvement, early detection and intervention was the key. This is why Brian has a major educational effort going on in the dental industry.

Brian could use your support as well. At this time this site is self funded by contributions from its members. So keep this in mind when making charitable donations -the life that gets saved here may be a loved one or even your own.

Gary,

That was a good one! Hope Eric from AZ sees it. Ha! Ha!

Rosie

Oh cripes it took me a day to get it!

(it is funny though)

I appreciate the humor and the words of wisdom. I certainly do not plan to shrug this off at this point. OCF will also figure prominently in my charitable giving plans.

I will keep you all posted.

Jeff

Gary -- your post worked... consider the crap scared out of me for the time being... Things are much better on that front right now... also, saw my doc on Friday and he said things were healing nicely in my mouth and wrote these wonderful letters on my chart: NED (No Evidence of Disease)... I like Ned!

Humor is good medicine...glad Minnie got a good laugh...