Signet ring cell explained

In histology, a signet ring cell is a cell with a large vacuole. The malignant type is seen predominantly in carcinomas. Signet ring cells are most frequently associated with stomach cancer,^[1] but can arise from any number of tissues including the prostate,^[2] bladder, gallbladder,^[3] breast, colon,^[4] ovarian stroma and testis.^[5]

Types

The NCI Thesaurus identifies the following types of signet ring cell

• Castration cell, a non-malignant cell arising in the anterior pituitary gland under certain abnormal hormonal conditions.
  • Neoplastic thyroid gland follicular signet ring cell Signet ring adenocarcinoma cell
• Signet ring melanoma cell
• Signet ring stromal cell

Appearance

The name of the cell comes from its appearance; signet ring cells resemble signet rings. They contain a large amount of mucin, which pushes the nucleus to the cell periphery. The pool of mucin in a signet ring cell mimics the appearance of a finger hole and the nucleus mimics the appearance of the face of the ring in profile.

Diagnostic significance

A significant number of signet ring cells, generally, are associated with a worse prognosis.^{[6] [7]}

Classification of carcinomas

SRC carcinomas can be classified using immunohistochemistry.^[8]

See also

• Signet ring cell carcinoma

References

1. Cancer Research UK. Signet Ring Cancer. cancerhelp.org.uk. URL: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=7581 . Accessed on: November 2, 2007.
2. Leong FJ, Leong AS, Swift J . Signet-ring carcinoma of the prostate . Pathol. Res. Pract. . 192 . 12 . 1232–8; discussion 1239–41 . 1996 . 9182294 . 10.1016/S0344-0338(96)80156-7.
3. Jain V, Gupta K, Kudva R, Rodrigues GS . A case of ovarian metastasis of gallbladder carcinoma simulating primary ovarian neoplasm: diagnostic pitfalls and review of literature . Int. J. Gynecol. Cancer . 16 Suppl 1 . 319–21 . 2006 . 16515613 . 10.1111/j.1525-1438.2006.00335.x.
4. Makino T, Tsujinaka T, Mishima H, etal . Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the colon and rectum: report of eight cases and review of 154 Japanese cases . Hepatogastroenterology . 53 . 72 . 845–9 . 2006 . 17153438 .
5. Michal M, Hes O, Kazakov DV . Primary signet-ring stromal tumor of the testis . Virchows Arch. . 447 . 1 . 107–10 . 2005 . 15909171 . 10.1007/s00428-005-1218-2.
6. Lee WS, Chun HK, Lee WY, etal . Treatment outcomes in patients with signet ring cell carcinoma of the colorectum . Am. J. Surg. . 194 . 3 . 294–8 . 2007 . 17693269 . 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.12.041.
7. Cabebe EC, Mehta VK, Fisher G. Gastric Cancer. eMedicine.com. URL: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic845.htm. Accessed on: November 8, 2007.
8. Tian MM, Zhao AL, Li ZW, Li JY . Phenotypic classification of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma and its relationship with clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis . World J. Gastroenterol. . 13 . 23 . 3189–98 . 2007 . 17589897 .

External links

• Signet ring cells - med.Utah.edu.
• Signet ring cell definition - cancer.gov.
• Signet ring cell cancer information - sites.google.com/site/signetringcancer.