Debbie2003 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Hello - I'm waiting for results of PET scan and have a new to take a new CT scan in a few weeks. I've been reading about a lot of the people on the board and I noticed many have been "restaged". How does that happen? How do they diagnose one stage and then change it so drastically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Debbie, I believe the primary staging is a conservative "estimate" on what can be seen from the outside. Upon further inspection, mets to lymph nodes that were not suspected can be picked up...a different scan can show the tumor being more involved with the lungs, etc. Staging is done by size, location, mets and involvement... Other numbers you may see are in the format of T#N#M#. The number following the letters gives a more detailed description of what is being seen. Of course, restaging doesn't always have to be the sky falling, it could be seeing that what was thought to be a huge malignant tumor really isn't... Any help? Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Unfortunately staging is usually not 100% accurate. Sometimes people have a PET scan and it will have a false negative or false positive. Just like CT scans and biopsys - they are never 100% accurate People are also restaged after successful treatment. Going from stage III to Stage I or II. And like snowflake said, you might be given a stage I diagnosis at first but a biopsy reveals that the nodule is benign so no cancer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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