signet ring cell (castration cell)

Basophilic cells characterized by a large cytoplasmic vacuole that displaces the nucleus to the periphery of the cell giving the appearance of a signet ring. Occurrence: 1) anterior lobe of the pituitary following castration 2) mucin-containing carcinoma (metastatic) a) gastric cancer b) colon cancer c) breast cancer d) ovarian cancer e) bladder cancer e) prostate cancer Laboratory: - signet ring cells in colorectal cancer

References

Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999.