title: Signet-ring stromal tumor of the ovary: clinicopathologic analysis and comparison with Krukenberg tumor.
abstract: Signet-ring stromal tumor is a rare ovarian neoplasm that can mimic Krukenberg tumor because of the presence of signet-ring cells in both tumors. The clinicopathologic features of three signet-ring stromal tumors, one of which has been previously reported, were analyzed and compared with 10 Krukenberg tumors. Patients with signet-ring stromal tumor ranged in age from 34 to 41 years (mean: 36.7 years). All signet-ring stromal tumors were unilateral and stage IA, whereas 60% and 40% of Krukenberg tumors were bilateral or associated with extraovarian tumor, respectively. The signet-ring stromal tumors were devoid of epithelial differentiation (glands, nests, cords), whereas all of the Krukenberg tumors contained these epithelial structures at least focally. In contrast to signet-ring stromal tumors, the signet-ring cells of Krukenberg tumors were positive for periodic acid-Schiff with diastase and cytokeratins but negative for vimentin. The patients with signet-ring stromal tumors were alive without disease at follow-up interval of 1 month to 17.4 years (mean: 7.4 years). In summary, signet-ring stromal tumor is a rare, benign, ovarian tumor that may be mistaken for Krukenberg tumor. Although the combination of operative and histopathologic findings allow their distinction, histochemical and immunohistochemical stains may also be useful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic and Breast Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA. rvang1@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vang
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagué
authors.forename: Fattaneh A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tavassoli
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007725:Krukenberg Tumor / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor