Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of breast is a rare subtype with aggressive clinical course. The prevalence of signet ring features is between 2 to 4.5% of total breast cancers. Here we analyzed clinical and pathological features and outcomes of our patients with SRCC of breast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated retrospectively medical charts of 3587 patients with breast cancer diagnosed and treated in Hacettepe University Cancer Institute between 2007-2014. Patient demographics, pathology reports were assessed along with clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty five patients with SRCC were identified (1%) Median age was 53 years and 48% of them were premenopausal. At initial diagnosis, metastatic disease was seen in 4 patients, other 21 patients have localized disease. Tumors were mostly grade 2, ER positive and Her2 negative. In patients with mixed histology, co-existed histology was invasive ductal carcinoma in 9 patients and invasive lobular carcinoma in 6 patients.  Median follow up was 27 months. Seven patients had recurrence (1 local, 1 both local and distant, 5 distant). Most common site of distant relapses were bone, liver and ovaries (3, 2 and 2 patients, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this study, the prevalence of SRCC was found 0.7 %, which is lower than that reported in the literature. Invazive ductal carcinoma is the most common accompanying subtype. Ovarian metastases were found in 2 of 7 distant failures. Signet ring cell histology may have a predilection for ovarian metastases.

Keywords: