Signet ring cell carcinoma in a polyp of the colon. A case report of a six-year-old boy.

Undifferentiated adenocarcinoma of the colon occurring in a 6-year-old boy was presented. The tumor characterized by the signet ring cell appearance developed in a polyp of the descending colon. The signet ring cell carcinoma is in general a rare morphologic form of colonic carcinoma. According to our review of the literature there have been described 16 patients under 10 years of age with colonic or rectal carcinoma, disclosing 2 cases of undifferentiated or signet ring cell carcinoma including the present case. In children, mucin producing adenocarcinoma is the most predominant type of colonic carcinoma, and 48% of the colonic carcinomas are of signet ring cell carcinoma in children under 17 years of age.