What Is Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma?

According to the World Health Organization classification, signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a histological type. This type was originally derived from the microscopic characteristics of the tumor rather than its biological behavior. Mucus, the nucleus is squeezed on the side of the cytoplasm and has a "signet ring" shape, hence the name, is a special type of mucus-secreting adenocarcinoma that often occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, breast, bladder, and prostate. Primary SRCC of the lung is rare.

Basic Information

English name

signet-ring cell carcinoma

Visiting department

Oncology

Common locations

Gastrointestinal tract, breast, bladder and prostate

Contagious

no

Signet ring cell carcinoma

Gastric signet ring cell carcinoma

Gastric signet ring cell carcinoma is a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with a high degree of malignancy, which is apt to diffusely infiltrate into the stomach wall, has strong invasion, and has a high metastasis rate. It is often found only in the late stages. Signet ring cell carcinoma is a special type of gastric cancer that contains large amounts of mucus. Early gastric signet ring cell carcinoma mostly occurs in young women, and the general type is mainly concave, with a large proportion of intramucosal cancer, and its prognosis is significantly better than non-signet ring cell carcinoma.

2. Signet ring cell carcinoma of the breast

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the breast refers to invasive breast cancer composed mainly or entirely of signet ring cells (containing intracellular cytoplasmic mucus). Simple signet ring cell carcinoma is more rare. There are two types of signet ring cell carcinoma. One is related to lobular carcinoma, which is similar to the classic invasive lobular carcinoma. Large vacuoles can be seen in the cytoplasm. Eosinophils are often found in the vacuoles, and the nucleus is compressed on one side. Another type is related to ductal cancer. The morphology is similar to gastric signet ring cell carcinoma. The nucleus is located on one side, and the cytoplasm is filled with eosinophilic mucus. Signet ring cells appear in common solid or sieve ductal cancer. Signet ring cell carcinoma has a high tendency to invasion, recurrence, and metastasis, and has a poor prognosis.

3. Bladder signet ring cell carcinoma

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the bladder, that is, primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the bladder was first described by Saphir in 1955. It is extremely rare in clinical practice, accounting for 1 to 4 of all bladder malignancies. It is more common in men and more common in men. elderly.

4. Prostate Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the prostate is invasive, metastasizes quickly and involves various organs outside the prostate, and has early recurrence. Early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment may improve long-term survival.

5. Signet ring cell carcinoma of the pancreas

Signet ring cell carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare subtype of pancreatic cancer with a high degree of malignancy. Histologically, the tumor cells are diffusely distributed, round, rich in cytoplasm, and full of mucus. The characteristics of needle aspiration cytology are similar to those of histology. The cells are scattered or loosely adhered into clusters, round, the cytoplasm is mucoid vacuole-like, the nucleus is deeply stained, round or squeezed into a crescent shape. Mucus staining was positive, PAS staining was weakly positive. Signet ring cells should be distinguished from macrophages that engulf mucus or lipids.

Signet Ring Cell Cancer Treatment

Signet ring cell carcinoma is not sensitive to chemotherapy, and surgical treatment is still the first choice. However, only for cases that have not spread, try to achieve early diagnosis and early surgery to achieve a certain therapeutic effect. Most advanced signet ring cancers do not advocate surgical treatment, but use integrated medical treatment.