CHARACTERIZATION OF SIGNET-RING CELL-CARCINOMA OF THE STOMACH

Background and Objectives: As there is no consensus regarding the prog nosis of patients with signer cell carcinoma of the stomach compared w ith other types of gastric cancer, we retrospectively studied the clin icopathologic features and prognosis of signet cell carcinoma in compa rison with other types of gastric cancer. Methods: Gastrectomies were performed because of gastric cancer in 1,498 patients between 1970 and 1994. Of the 154 patients diagnosed with signer ring cell carcinoma, 94 had early and 60 had advanced gastric carcinoma. The percentage of patients with an early carcinoma was significantly higher among those with signet ring cell carcinoma compared with those with other gastric carcinoma histologies. Results: The survival of the total group of pa tients with signer ring cell carcinoma was significantly better than t hat of patients with other types of gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05). Surv ival of the subset of patients with early signet ring cell carcinoma w as also improved compared with patients with other types of gastric ca rcinoma (P < 0.05). However, patients with advanced signet ring cell c arcinoma had a poor prognosis similar to that of patients with other t ypes of gastric carcinoma. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss. Inc.