• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.88-92
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• 2002

Scattered single cells or variable sized clusters of signet ring cells in the aspirated smears of breast lesions are almost exclusively associated with carcinoma. The signet ring cells are defined as those containing a prominent intracytoplasmic vacuole or amorphous cytoplasm diffusely dispersed with mucin. The primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the breast behaves more aggressively than carcinoma without signet ring cells. Therefore, it is very important to make a correct diagnosis of signet ring cell carcinoma. Fine needle aspiration cytology is useful for diagnosis of breast lesions Including signet ring cell carcinoma. We report two cases, which showed mostly signet ring cells in the aspirated smears of the breast. One case consisted of numerous individual signet ring cells and variable sized cell clusters in rather mucoid background. The tumor cells had abundant amorphous cytoplasm filled with dispersed mucin or occasionally mucin vacuoles(PAS +) and eccentric nuclei. The resected mass revealed mucinous carcinoma. The other showed the cytologic findings of low cellularity, and small loosely cohesive signet ring cell clusters with mild nuclear pleomorphism. It was confirmed as lobular signet ring cell carcinoma in the resected tumor.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.66-70
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• 2003

Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare type of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. To the best of our knowledge, there is no report on cytologlc findings of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in the literature. Recently, we experienced two cases of signet ring cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The finding of characteristic signet ring cells on cervicovaginal smear led to the diagnosis of signet ring cell carcinoma. However, primary signet ring cell carcinoma could not be cytologically distinguished from more common metastatic tumor. Therefore, diagnosis rests upon the recognition of signet ring cells and the absence of signet ring cell carcinoma elsewhere.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.594-598
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• 2004

Signet ring cell carcinoma of lung is an unique variant of mucin producing adenocarcinoma which is characterized by abundant intracellular mucin accumulation. Only a few cases of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of lung have been reported in the world wide literature. And we have, recently experienced one case of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of lung. A 55 years old man was evaluated for paralysis of lower extremities and was found to have lung cancer in the left upper and lower lobe with pleural, multiple spinal, bone and liver metastases. Signet ring tumor cells were revealed by cytologic examination of pleural fluids. And there were no evidence of signet ring cell carcinoma of other organs. Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of lung seems to have an aggressive behavior and therapeutic modalities could be different from those for signet ring cell carcinomas from other organs. Therefore it is important to separate primary signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of lung from metastatic tumors.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2011

The natural course of untreated patients with signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach remains poorly understood while assumptions have been made to distinguish it from other types of gastric cancer. A 74-year-old Korean woman was diagnosed with early gastric cancer with signet ring cell histology and refused surgery. A satellite lesion was identified 46 months after the initial diagnosis. The patient finally agreed to undergo distal subtotal gastrectomy 53 months following the initial diagnosis. Postoperative histological examination of both lesions confirmed signet ring cell carcinoma associated with submucosal invasion. There was no evidence of lymph node metastasis.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2013

Purpose: Endoscopic submucosal dissection has recently been practiced on a differentiated type of early gastric cancer. However, there is no clear evidence for endoscopic treatments of signet ring cell carcinoma. The aim of this study is to identify the predictive clinicopathological factors for lymph node metastasis in signet ring cell carcinoma for assisting endoscopic submucosal dissection trials. Materials and Methods: A total of 186 patients with early signet ring cell carcinoma who underwent radical curative gastrectomy between January 2001 and September 2009 were enrolled in this study. Retrospective reviews of their medical records are being conducted. Several clinicopathologic factors were being investigated in order to identify predictive factors for lymph nodes metastasis: age, gender, tumor size, type of operation, tumor location, gross type, ulceration, Lauren's classification, depth of invasion, and lymphatic invasion. Results: The lymph node metastasis rate for signet ring cell carcinoma was 4.3% (n=8). Of the 186 lesions with early signet ring cell carcinoma, 91 (48.9%) tumors were larger than 15 mm in size and 40 (21.5%) showed submucosal invasions in the resection specimens. In multivariate analysis, only the lymphatic invasion (P<0.0001) showed an association with lymph node metastasis. To evaluate cutoff values for tumor sizes in the presence of lymph node metastasis, early signet ring cell carcinomas with lymphatic invasions were excluded. In the absence of lymphatic invasion, mucosal cancer with tumor sizes <15 mm had no lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: Endoscopic submucosal dissection can be performed on patients with early signet ring cell carcinoma limited to the mucosa and less than 15 mm.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.83-86
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• 1997

Signet ring cell carcinoma is a variant of adenocarcinoma and has been rarely reported in the lung as a primary site. Recently, we experienced two cases of primary signet ring cell carcinoma in the lung without any other extrapulmonary lesion. Sputum cytology was performed and the tumor cells which have eccentrically located nuclei and abundnat mucinous cytoplasm were dispersed in diffuse sheets. On resected specimen, the signet ring cells occupied about $50{\sim}80%$ of all tumor cell nests. Histochemical staining revealed that the mucin produced by tumor cells was mostly carboxylated acid mucins. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells contained variable sized membrane-bound mucin granules with weak central osmilophilic density and showed numerous surface microvilli, which represented that tumor cells arose from bronchial epithelial cells. In general, this tumor has diffusely infiltrative nature and the prognosis is fatal due to widespread metastasis before clinical discovery.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.55-58
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• 2018

Gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) is a poorly differentiated or undifferentiated cancer of the stomach. However, early gastric SRC showed lower LN metastasis in many studies, thus some endoscopists now regard early gastric SRC as a candidate for endoscopic treatment. But there are unsolved problems of the validity of endoscopic resection in early gastric SRC. In this review, we will comprehensively review the previous clinical studies and discuss the limitation of current studies and the possibility of endoscopic resection of early gastric SRC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.562-567
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• 1994

Signet ring cell carcinoma has been previously described in many organs, most frequently in the stomach, and rarely in the colon, rectum, gallbladder, pancreas, breast, nadsal cavity, prostate, urinary bladder and ureter. Signet ring cell carcinomas in the lung, especially, when examined by small biopsies, are generally believed to be metastatic. This case was diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy. We also examined various organs by noninvasive method, including UGI series, barium enema and abdomen CT scan, but all studies were nomal. Patient received cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy followed by local radiotherapy as a primary non-small cell lung cancer. Patient died of his disease 6 months after diagnosis. Now we report a case of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the lung.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.76-80
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• 2007

Colorectal carcinomas are extremely rare in childhood and adolescence; however, the colon is the most common site of a gastrointestinal carcinoma. Mucin secreting adenocarcinomas with signet ring formation is the most common type of colon cancer identified in children. An 11-year-old boy had abdominal pain and weight loss for three months, back pain and left thigh pain for two months, and hematochezia for four days. Colonoscopy showed an annular mass in the sigmoid colon and the histopathology revealed a signet ring cell carcinoma. A metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma was suspected from the findings of the bone scan, and confirmed later by a left scalp mass incisional biopsy and a bone marrow biopsy. We report a case of a metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma of the colon in a child.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2002

We report the cytologic features of a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with high grade transitional cell and signet ring cell carcinomatous components. A 64-year-old male presented with gross hematuria for one week. Computed tomography revealed an ill-defined mass in the left lateral wall of the urinary bladder. Urinary cytology showed hypercellularity with predominantly isolated single cells and clustered cells. They have scanty cytoplasm and naked hyperchromatic nuclei with finely granular nuclear chromatin and rare nucleoli. The tumor cells occurred predominantly singe cells, but a few in clusters. Nuclear molding was prominent. No glandular formation or nesting was noted. The second tumor cells had high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, irregular nuclear membrane, and coarse granular chromatin. The background was inflamed and necrotic. The histoiogic findings of transurethral resection were mainly composed of small cell carcinoma, and partly transitional cell and signet ring cell carcinomatous components. Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma have distinctive cytologic features to make a proper diagnosis.