Endoscopic and clinicopathologic features of early gastric signet ring cell carcinoma ≤20 mm: a retrospective
Jianing Xu1, Jingyi Zhu1, Lanhui Lin1
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing Digestive Disease Center, Beijing Key Laboratory for Precancerous Lesion of Digestive Disease, Beijing, China.
Objectives:
Limited literature exists on the characteristics of early gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (GSRCC) within 20 mm. This study aimed to explore this type of cancer from several aspects, to provide guidance for early detection and intervention of GSRCC.
Methods:
We retrospectively collected data from 24 patients diagnosed with early GSRCC ≤20 mm in Beijing Friendship Hospital from 2016 to 2021. According to tumor size, those lesions were divided into three groups: diminutive group (1-5 mm, n = 4), small group (6-10 mm, n = 12) and intermediate group (11-20 mm, n = 8). The clinicopathologic and endoscopic characteristics of GSRCC were compared among the three groups.
Results:
Treatment strategies for lesions differed according to the size (p<.05). There were no significant differences among the three groups with regard to age, sex, Helicobacter pylori infection, tumor location and macroscopic type. Lesions were often flat type and more likely to present with discoloration, uneven color, ulceration and submucosal invasion with the increase of diameter. Almost all cases showed abnormal intervening part (IP) under magnifying endoscopy.
Conclusions:
The location of early signet ring cell carcinoma is not specific, and the diminutive lesions are often flat. Abnormal IP may be the early endoscopic feature of early GSRCC.


