title: Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the colorectum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Objective of the study was to investigate particular clinicopathological features of colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 34 patients with primary colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma were compared with those of 4,458 consecutive patients with primary non-signet-ring cell colorectal adenocarcinoma between 1978 and 1999. For outcome analysis patients, after curative resection of signet-ring cell cancer, were matched for age, gender, tumour site and stage with patients suffering from poorly differentiated non-signet-ring cell colorectal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Signet-ring cell carcinoma patients were significantly younger than patients with non-signet-ring cell colorectal adenocarcinoma (median age 60 years vs 64 years, P=0.033). The most common tumour sites were the rectum (47%) and the right hemicolon (29%). They presented with significantly more advanced tumour stages and a significantly higher frequency of distant metastases (44% vs 21%, P=0.002). The rate of curative resections was significantly lower (35% vs 79%, P<0.001). However, the prognosis after curative resection of signet-ring cell cancer was as poor as in poorly differentiated non-signet-ring cell colorectal adenocarcinoma of the same stage (5-year survival rate 46% vs 57%, p=0.935).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma is characterized by diagnosis in more advanced tumour stages resulting in lower rates of curative resection. Prognosis is as poor as in non-signet-ring cell colorectal cancer of low differentiation in the same stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremburg, Krankenhausstrasse 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. birebi@aol.com
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bittorf
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merkel
authors.forename: Klaus E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Matzel
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wein
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimmler
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hohenberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery