title: [A man with colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma: which therapy is required?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is rare and often affects younger patients. It demonstrates a different biological behaviour and has a less favourable prognosis than the more conventional colorectal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient A, a 65-year-old man, presented with a change in bowel habit. Colonoscopy showed a stenosis with signs of a nonspecific inflammation. However, laparoscopy revealed a primary colorectal SRCC with diffuse peritoneal metastases. Standard chemotherapy was unsuccessful. Patient A died 13 months after diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on clinical and molecular differences, SRCC can be recognized as a separate subtype of colorectal cancer. The case description illustrates that this group of patients may benefit from a different management strategy than the usual therapy. A greater understanding of the characteristics of this specific malignancy is needed.
authors.affiliation: Amphia Ziekenhuis, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Breda, the Netherlands. m.dietvorst@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: M H P Anne-Marie
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Dietvorst
authors.forename: Noortje
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schoenmakers
authors.forename: Albert J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: ten Tije
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents