Signet ring cell carcinoma of the gallbladder: a case report

Carcinoma of the gall bladder is the most common biliary tract tumor with higher incidence in females and increasing age. The risk is significantly higher in cholelithiasis. Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare form of mucinous adenocarcinoma and has a worse prognosis. Early diagnosis is rare. We report a case of signet ring cell carcinoma of the gall bladder in a 70 years old female patient. The gross finding was yellowish white mass measuring 4 x 3.5 cm on cut surface of the gall bladder along with thickened wall. Histopathological examination of the specimen shows the sheets of signet ring cells with lateral spread through the lamina propria and large amount of extracellular mucin. There was metastasis in the retroperitoneum and mesenteric lymph node. The tumor was stage IV (according to TNM staging). Patient died 20th post operative day. Since very few cases have been reported, information regarding the behavior and prognosis of gall bladder carcinoma is limited. However it has been seen that stage III and IV carcinoma usually have worse prognosis.