title: Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung with signet-ring cells: a histochemical comparison with signet-ring cell carcinomas of other sites.
abstract: Five cases of primary mucinous adenocarcinomas of the lung with signet-ring cells were studied with regard to clinical, pathologic, and prognostic implications and compared with the signet-ring cell adenocarcinomas of extrapulmonary sites. The patients ranged in age from 55 to 74 years, with a mean age of 67.8 years. There were three men and two women. Histologically, three cases were usual adenocarcinomas and two were bronchioloalveolar carcinomas. The percentage of signet-ring cells ranged from 10% to 50%, with a mean of 22% and a median of 20%. Therapy included lobectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy. Three of five patients died of their disease within 9 months and two patients showed no evidence of disease 5 months after presentation. Routine histology showed no significant differences between the signet-ring cells of any of the tumors; however, by special histochemistry, tumors originating from lung, stomach, and colon showed a more intense reaction with alcian blue stain than tumors from nose, breast, or bladder. Contrary to a previous report, we found no increase in sulfated acid mucins in these five cases of lung tumor. We also were unable to demonstrate a qualitative or quantitative difference between mucopolysaccharides produced by lung, stomach, or colon tumors. Although rare, mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung with signet-ring cells can exist as a primary tumor.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
authors: J K
authors: JK
authors: Kish
authors: J Y
authors: JY
authors: Ro
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Ayala
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: McMurtrey
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000423:Alcian Blue; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D009077:Mucins; D000423:Alcian Blue