[Signet-ring cell colorectal carcinoma. Study of 2 cases]

The signet-ring cell colorectal carcinoma is very uncommon. During the period 1985-89, we have diagnosed two cases among 1,135 adenocarcinomata located in the same place. They are the two first cases described in Spain, according to a computerized bibliographic search. We have to point up as clinical features of the tumor, the occurrence of its first signs in advanced stages of the disease and the small survival of the patients suffering from this tumor. Its great content of mucin facilitates the thromboembolic disease which was the first sign and the cause of legth in one of our patients. This type of tumor has worse prognosis than the usual colorectal carcinomata, including the mucinous one, and it is similar to the one of the poorly differentiated carcinoma.