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Early Signet Ring Cell Gastric Cancer

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 56, pages 1749–1756 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) is defined as a histological entity. The clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of gastric SRC remain controversial.

Methods

From 1994 to 2006, 2,439 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent gastrectomy were enrolled. Of these, 505 patients (20.7%) had SRC and were compared to 1,934 patients with other histological types.

Results

Twenty-nine percent of patients in the SRC group (n = 149) had early gastric cancer, with tumor invasion limited to the mucosa or submucosa, compared to 22.2% of patients in the non-SRC group (n = 430). The proportion of regional LN metastases was 10.7 and 16.0% in early SRC and early non-SRC, respectively, (p = 0.115). The 5-year survival rates for patients with early SRC were better than those for patients with early non-SRC (96.1 vs. 89.6%, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Early gastric SRC has favorable prognosis. There is no significant difference in terms of LN metastasis between SRC histologic type and other histological types. Less-invasive strategies may be acceptable in selected patients with early gastric SRC.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Shu-Fang Hwang at the Departments of Surgery of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for helpful data analysis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenetrology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Cheng-Tang Chiu, Chia-Jung Kuo & Chun-Jung Lin

  2. Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5 Fu-Hsing Street, Kwei-Shan Shiang, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Ta-Sen Yeh, Jun-Te Hsu, Keng-Hao Liu, Chun-Nan Yeh, Tsann-Long Hwang & Yi-Yin Jan

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  1. Cheng-Tang Chiu
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Correspondence to Ta-Sen Yeh.

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Chiu, CT., Kuo, CJ., Yeh, TS. et al. Early Signet Ring Cell Gastric Cancer. Dig Dis Sci 56, 1749–1756 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1487-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1487-8

Keywords

  • Gastric cancer
  • Signet ring cell carcinoma
  • Histology
  • Prognosis