PRIMARY SIGNET-RING-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE RECTUM IN A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY

A case of primary signet-ring-cell carcinoma of the rectum is presente d. Colorectal carcinoma is uncommon in childhood; moreover, the signet -ring-cell type is very rare even in adults. The clinical, pathologic, and biologic characteristics of this carcinoma are different from ord inary colorectal carcinomas. Our patient was a 12-year-old boy, the yo ungest with a signet-ring-cell carcinoma of the rectum in the English literature, who had a Dukes' C lesion. Pathologically, the tumor is ch aracterized by diffuse infiltration of the bowel wall by signet-ring-c ells. The prognosis is extremely poor.