Signet Ring Cell Colorectal Cancer in a 26-Year-Old Young Adult Woman: A Case Report

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cause of death related to cancer. One of them is signet ring cell carcinomas, which is represented as one of the rarest, characterized by histologic differentiation. Signet ring cell carcinoma of the colon is a rare subtype of mucinous adenocarcinoma, making up less than 1%. This low rate is mainly because it is generally diagnosed at advanced stages, thus giving a poor prognosis at presentation. In this report, our objective was to highlight the risk factors, diagnostic challenge, and the significance of early detection in this case. Case: A 26-year-old female was admitted to the ER with abdominal pain and a change of bowel habit. A contrast CT abdomen showed a 4cmx3.3cm lobulated mass in the wall of the descending colon, which causes a total obstruction. Left-sided hemicolectomy and end-to-end anastomoses between the transverse colon and sigmoid were then performed. Pathology reports revealed neoplastic cells with morphology of intracytoplasmic mucin that presses the nucleus to the edge, forming a signet ring cell appearance (>90%), confirming a Signet Ring Cell (SRCC) of colorectal cancer. Conclusion: Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC) of colorectal cancer represents a challenge; further research is needed to fully understand the causes and risk factors specific to SRCC. Early detection and genetic profiling may help identify individuals at higher risk for improving survival rates and quality of life for individuals afflicted with this rare malignancy.