Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the lung: A report of seven cases

Signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is an extremely rare subtype of adenocarcinoma with aggressive behavior that usually occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, prostate or breast. In this study, we described the clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of, and the therapeutic strategies for seven patients with primary SRCC of the lung from Sichuan University West China Hospital to enhance our understanding of this kind of tumor. According to the information presented herein, it is believed that patients with primary pulmonary SRCC can live for a long time if the cancer is diagnosed early and treated actively. However, more investigations are still needed due to the limited reports about primary SRCC of the lung. KEY POINTS: SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the lung is an extremely rare subtype of lung adenocarcinoma and is relatively highly invasive. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: Early diagnosis and positive treatment lead to a good prognosis for patients with signet-ring cell carcinoma.