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Colon tumor
Carcinoma
Mucinous carcinoma of colon

Author: Raul Gonzalez M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 2 January 2017, last major update September 2015

Copyright: (c) 2002-2017, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: Mucinous carcinoma [title] colon
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Terminology | Epidemiology | Sites | Pathophysiology | Clinical features | Prognostic factors | Case reports | Gross description | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive stains | Molecular / cytogenetics description | Differential diagnosis | Additional references
Cite this page: Mucinous carcinoma of colon. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/colontumorcolloid.html. Accessed July 14th, 2017.
Definition / general
  • WHO recognized subtype of colorectal carcinoma with mucin lakes comprising at least 50% of tumor mass
    • Terminology
  • Variably called "colloid carcinoma"
    • Epidemiology
  • Relatively common (10% of all colorectal carcinomas) (Cancer 1976;37:1891)
  • Incidence is stable (Dis Colon Rectum 2005;48:1161)
    • Sites
  • Most commonly arises in the right colon (J Clin Pathol 2012;65:381)
    • Pathophysiology
  • Associated with microsatellite instability (Cancer 2005;103:2023), though most mucinous carcinomas are not MSI-high (Am J Pathol 2001;158:527)
    • Clinical features
  • Usually presents at more advanced stage (Dis Colon Rectum 1993;36:49) and with greater nodal involvement (Gastroenterol Hepatol 2002;25:534) than standard colorectal carcinoma
  • May recur locally following excision (World J Surg Oncol 2012;10:109)
    • Prognostic factors
  • May have same (Ann Oncol 2012;23:135) or worse (J Surg Oncol 2000;73:70) prognosis compared to standard colorectal carcinoma
    • Case reports
  • 11 year old child with colloid carcinoma of rectum (J Postgrad Med 1993;39:218)
  • 77 year old man with large mucinous adenocarcinoma (Dig Surg 2003;20:69)
    • Gross description
  • Exophytic, gelatinous mass
    • Gross images

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    Causing intussusception

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    Cecal tumor



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    Arising in villous adenoma

    Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Adenocarcinoma with strips of tumor cells floating in large extracellular mucin lakes comprising at least half of tumor mass
  • Signet ring cells (with intracellular mucin) may also be present but should comprise less than half of tumor
    • Microscopic (histologic) images

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    Pools of mucus

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    Low power

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    Extracellular mucin

    Positive stains
  • CDX2 (100%), MUC2 (100%), CK20 (98%), beta-catenin (nuclear) (64%), CK7 (19%, usually rectal), MUC6 (5%) (Am J Surg Pathol 2011;35:1830)
    • Molecular / cytogenetics description
  • Kras mutations more common, and TP53 mutations less common, than in standard colorectal carcinomas (Mod Pathol 2006;19:59)
    • Differential diagnosis
  • Colitis cystica profunda: may form a mass and demonstrate copious extracellular mucin but epithelium is clearly benign
  • Signet ring carcinoma: more than half of tumor composed of signet ring cells
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