Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2011 Sep;54(9):570-573. 10.5468/KJOG.2011.54.9.570.

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: A case report

• Yoon A
• Kim SH
• Kim HJ
• Bae DS
• Lee JW

• KMID: 2274087
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2011.54.9.570

Abstract

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the cervix is extremely rare. A 47-year-old woman visited for postcoital vaginal bleeding during the last six months. Gynecologic examination revealed mild cervical erosion and touch bleeding. Colposcopic punch biopsy revealed a signet ring cell type of mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and para-aortic lymph node dissection. Microscopically, the tumor mainly consisted of two different types of cells; mixed signet ring cell carcinoma (70%) and mucinous carcinoma of intestinal type (30%). The patient died in 6 months after operation. The prognosis of primary signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix is still unclear because of the extremely rare incidence of cases. In this case, we could suggest that this type of carcinoma has an aggressive behavior.

Keyword

Signet ring cell carcinoma; Uterine cervical neoplasm; Adenocarcinoma

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous
Biopsy
Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell
Cervix Uteri
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hysterectomy
Incidence
Lymph Node Excision
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Uterine Hemorrhage

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Microscopic findings of the tumor. (A) Signet ring cell: intracytoplasmic vacuoles, some of which compressed the nuclei, taking the form of a signet ring cell-type (H&E, ×400). (B) Intestinal type: characteristic pattern with cystic glandular structures lined by stratified tall columnar like cells with modest amounts of amphophilic cytoplasm (H&E, ×200).

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  Fig. 2 Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings of 5 months after operation. (A) Abdomen: several enlarged abdominal paraaortic lymph nodes and multiple metastatic subcutaneous nodules (arrow). (B) Chest: bilateral enhancing nodular pleural thickening and subcutaneous nodule (arrow). (C) Spine: heterogenous enhancement of sacrum and iliac bone suggesting diffuse metastasis.

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