Signet ring cell DCIS

Breast malignant, males, children
In situ carcinoma
Signet ring cell DCIS

Author: Dina Kandil, M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 18 October 2016, last major update January 2012

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PubMed Search: Signet ring cell DCIS

Table of Contents

Definition / general | Microscopic (histologic) description | Positive stains | Differential diagnosis

Cite this page: Signet ring cell DCIS. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/breastmalignantsignetringcellDCIS.html. Accessed July 14th, 2017.

Definition / general

Not a distinct subtype of DCIS (Am J Clin Pathol 1980;73:31, Cancer 1985;55:2533)
Signet ring cells are usually associated with LCIS, but can be seen in DCIS as well; signet ring cells are very rare in benign ductal proliferation

Microscopic (histologic) description

Cells have eccentric nuclei that are indented at the nuclear border by a cytoplasmic vacuole with a central minute secretion droplet

Positive stains

Mucicarmine, Alcian blue, PAS-diastase

Differential diagnosis

Clear cells of normal nipple-areola complex: varied morphology but no atypia; usually morphology consistent with pagetoid dyskeratosis, HMW CK+ (Histol Histopathol 2009;24:367)
Histiocytes: may appear in lymph nodes too; mucin negative, CD68+ (Am J Clin Pathol 1989;92:509)
Non-specific cytoplasmic halos: usually a fixation artifact, mucin negative