A clinical case of endoscopic diagnosis of signet ring cell cancer of the antrum of the stomach

Abstract

Signet ring cell cancer (SRC) is a rare form of high-grade adenocarcinoma that produces mucin. This is an epithelial malignant tumor characterized by the histological appearance of cells resembling rings. Primary SRC tumors are most often found in the glandular cells of the stomach (SRC occurs in the stomach in 56% of patients) and less often in the mammary gland, gallbladder, bladder and pancreas. SRC usually does not form in the lungs, although several cases have been reported. Among cases of colorectal cancer, the prevalence of SRC is less than one percent. Although the incidence and mortality from stomach cancer have decreased in many countries over the past 50 years, there has been an increase in the number of cases of stomach cancer of the type of SRC. As a rule, SRC grows in the submucosal layer, which makes diagnostics using standard imaging methods, such as computed tomography and positron emission tomography, less effective. In this clinical case, the possibilities of endoscopic diagnosis of SRC in a patient who has not been able to establish a correct diagnosis for a long time have been demonstrated.

Keywords

• tumor
• adenocarcinoma
• signet cell carcinoma
• stomach