Signet-ring cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a report of three cases

Signet-ring cell carcinoma is a rare cervical adenocarcinoma considered to be an aggressive cancer with worse prognosis. Many of the cases are mixed form having other histological type. Case 1 (82 years; autopsy case): The autopsy revealed some areas of signet-ring type cancer cells with usual mucinous adenocarcinoma embedded in a gelatinous material involving the whole uterus and the retroperitoneum. Case 2 (38 years): The hysterectomy revealed a tumor of 4 cm confined to the cervix. The histology was adenosquamous carcinoma with signet-ring cells and areas of neuroendocrine carcinoma. She expired 2 years later with liver metastasis. Case 3 (37 years): The diagnoses of pap smear and biopsy were signet-ring cell carcinoma. The surgery revealed a tumor of 5 cm confined to the cervix, composed of signet-ring cells with a transition to mucinous adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. All three tumors showed immunoreactivity for p16, a surrogate marker of high risk-HPV.