Primary Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Colon and Rectum

Kim, Hee Chul; Kim, Chang Nam; Jeong, Choon Sik; Yu, Chang Sik; Kim, Byung Sik; Lee, Hun Kyung; Kim, Jin Cheon

Abstract

PURPOSE: Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare type of adenocarcinoma in the colon and rectum. We evaluated the differences of clinical features between colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma and ordinary adenocarcinoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The clincopathologic data of 13 cases with primary colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma were reviewed. The primary colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma was diagnosed when following criteria were met: 1) the tumor was primary; 2) histologic material was adequate; 3) signet ring cells represented more than 50% of the cancer.
RESULTS
Patients ranged in age from 20 to 68 (median, 45) years; 7 were male, and 6 were female. Three tumors were located in the proximal colon, 3 in the distal colon, and 7 in the rectum. There was no case that had family history. Most cases (77%) were stage III, one was stage II, and two were stage IV with peritoneal seeding. There were 9 cases that showed local recurrence or distant metastases during follow-up periods 6 cases with peritoneal seeding, 3 with bone metastases, 2 with brain metastases and 1 with pelvic recurrence (two cases had either bone and brain metastasis, and one case had bone and peritoneal seeding). Prognosis was extremely poor, and overall two years survival rate was 25%.
CONCLUSION
Early onset, mode of metastasis and poor prognosis may imply the different biologic behavior of signet ring cell carcinoma, compared with ordinary adenocarcinoma. To improve outcome, early diagnosis and radical operation should be stressed.