Diffuse Adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells (8 of 18)

ALTHOUGH GASTRIC CARCINOMA occurs with
reduced frequency, it is still a prevalent disease. Most
gastric carcinomas are classified as adenocarcinomas due
to glandular growth pattern and/or presumed occurrence of
mucin intracellularly Mucin is often identified by periodic
acid-Schiff (PAS) and/or alcian blue (AB) positivity.
However, neither of these histochemical methods is
specific for mucins. Both methods are based upon the
identification of glycoproteins. We have previously
described that a proportion of gastric carcinomas,
particularly of the diffuse type according to Laurén 1965
are neuroendocrine derived and probably of
enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell origin. The so-called
signet ring cell carcinomas belong to the diffuse type of
gastric carcinomas.