Signet-ring cell carcinoma involving the urinary bladder. Report of a case and review of 21 cases.

A case of signet-ring cell carcinoma involving the urinary bladder, which is a rare variant of adenocarcinoma, is presented. 21 cases have so far been reported in the occidental and Japanese journals. In 13 patients (62%) the carcinomas were of urachal origin and 8 (38%) of bladder origin. The prognosis of signet-ring cell carcinoma originating in bladder is poorer compared to that in urachus; 2-year survival of 40% for the bladder cancer group and 70% for the urachus. A radical cystectomy with excision of adjacent tissues, which might improve the prognosis in this fatal malignancy, should be considered.