Signet ring cell

In histology, a signet ring cell is a cell with a large vacuole. The malignant type is seen predominantly in carcinomas.
Signet ring cells are most frequently associated with stomach cancer, but can arise from any number of tissues including the prostate, bladder, gallbladder, breast, colon, ovarian stroma and testis.

Types

The NCI Thesaurus identifies the following types of signet ring cell

Castration cell, a non-malignant cell arising in the anterior pituitary gland under certain abnormal hormonal conditions.
Neoplastic [thyroid gland follicular signet ring cell]
Signet ring adenocarcinoma cell
Signet ring melanoma cell
Signet ring stromal cell
Appearance

The name of the cell comes from its appearance; signet ring cells resemble signet rings. They contain a large amount of mucin, which pushes the nucleus to the cell periphery. The pool of mucin in a signet ring cell mimics the appearance of a finger hole and the nucleus mimics the appearance of the face of the ring in profile.

Diagnostic significance

A significant number of signet ring cells, generally, are associated with a worse prognosis.

Classification of carcinomas

SRC carcinomas can be classified using immunohistochemistry.