An Extremely Rare Case of Rectal Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Signet ring cell carcinoma of the rectum is a rare variant of colorectal cancer. When found, it is often diagnosed in late stages and has poor prognosis. This case depicts a patient with a history of Crohn’s disease who presented to the hospital for perirectal abscesses. During the evaluation of both the abscesses and Crohn’s disease, he was found to have stage IV adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell features. The patient was started on chemotherapy before surgical resection was considered, however, showed little response. The patient’s family eventually pursued hospice care with comfort measures only. Colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma is rare but has poor prognosis as it is diagnosed generally at late and advanced stages. There is a need for more research in earlier detection of these rare cancers.