Signet-Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Colon Radiologically Stimulating Crohn’s Colitis

A 35-year-old male with abdominal pain and weight loss was referred with a diagnosis of Crohn’s colitis. Subsequent colonoscopic examination and laparotomy revealed diffuse infiltration of the colonic wall with a primary signet-ring cell carcinoma and widespread metastases. The poor prognosis of this lesion appears to reflect difficulty in early diagnosis as well as the unusual cell biological features of this highly invasive histological variety of colon carcinoma.