Signet ring cell
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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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.
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Gastric signet ring cell carcinoma. H&E stain.
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A signet ring-like foamy macrophage, which may mimic a cancer cell, but the texture of the nucleus is similar to that of a normal macrophage.
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High magnification micrograph showing signet ring cells, with clear cytoplasm, in metastatic breast carcinoma. H&E stain.
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Signet ring cells (magenta) stained with PAS in a gastric signet ring cell carcinoma.
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Diagnostic significance
[edit | edit source]A significant number of signet ring cells, generally, are associated with a worse prognosis.[6][7]
Classification of carcinomas
[edit | edit source]SRC carcinomas can be classified using immunohistochemistry.[8]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Cancer Research UK. Signet Ring Cancer. cancerhelp.org.uk. URL: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=7581 Archived 2007-10-14 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed on: November 2, 2007.
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- ^ Cabebe EC, Mehta VK, Fisher G. Gastric Cancer. eMedicine.com. URL: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic845.htm. Accessed on: November 8, 2007.
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Signet ring cells - med.Utah.edu.
- Signet ring cell definition - cancer.gov.
- Signet ring cell cancer information - sites.google.com/site/signetringcancer.