title: Signet-ring cells associated with pseudomembranous colitis.
abstract: After being treated for pneumonia with antibiotics, an 82-year-old man with a history of colonic carcinoma developed pseudomembranous colitis with toxic megacolon. In addition to the classic features of pseudomembranous colitis, the colon displayed signet-ring cells confined to the surface epithelium and crypts. A misdiagnosis of recurrent carcinoma was avoided after a review of the history and the endoscopic findings and by noting the location of the signet-ring cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania Hospital, PA 19107-6192, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schiffman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008532:Megacolon, Toxic / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology