Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma in Urine Cytology: Cytomorphologic Findings and Differential Diagnosis
Background: Signet ring carcinoma is an exceedingly rare and aggressive variant of primary bladder carcinoma. The cytomorphologic features of this rare entity in urinary specimens have not been well characterized. Methods: Twenty-seven cases of signet ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Acta cytologica 2012-01, Vol.56 (2), p.177-182 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Background: Signet ring carcinoma is an exceedingly rare and aggressive variant of primary bladder carcinoma. The cytomorphologic features of this rare entity in urinary specimens have not been well characterized. Methods: Twenty-seven cases of signet ring cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were identified from the pathology archives of The Johns Hopkins Hospital (1989–2011). Of these, 6 cases with prior urinary cytology specimens were studied. Results: There were 5 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 62 years. The presenting complaints included hematuria with or without symptoms of bladder irritation. Histopathologically, there were 5 cases of primary bladder carcinoma and 1 case of metastatic colonic signet ring cell carcinoma. The salient cytomorphologic features included scattered malignant epithelial cells, displaying distinct cell borders, abundant cytoplasm with a single large, discrete mucin vacuole, and eccentric irregular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Primary adenocarcinoma additionally revealed a few intact malignant glandular epithelial fragments. Metastatic colonic signet ring cell carcinoma displayed predominantly singly dispersed malignant cells with eccentrically placed, oval nuclei with occasional small nucleoli and a moderate amount of vacuolated cytoplasm. Conclusion: Signet ring cell carcinomas are rarely encountered in urinary cytology. The differential diagnosis includes distended histiocytes or degenerated urothelial cells, primary signet ring cell carcinoma, and metastatic adenocarcinoma. |
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ISSN: | 0001-5547 1938-2650 |
DOI: | 10.1159/000335118 |