Primary signet ring cell adenocarcinoma as a rare cause of colonic stenosis in a young patient with Crohn’s disease – the case report

Abstract

Summary: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a rare type of highly malignant adenocarcinoma that produces mucin and predominantly affects the stomach, ovaries, and the small intestine. Primary localisation in the colon is rare, and the prognosis of this type of adenocarcinoma is very poor. We present a case report of a 44-year-old woman who suffered from Crohn‘s disease beginning in the year 2000. During the last three years of her treatment, she was treated using bio­logical therapy with ustekinumab. The treatment led to clinical, laboratory, and endoscopic remission. In February 2021, she had widely metastatic primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the colon, which mimicked the IBD activity in the case of her colon obstruction. Because of the extensive infiltration of her liver and peritoneum at the time of the dia­gnosis, in addition to the symptoms of the passage disorders she was experiencing, she proceeded with an end ileostomy and palliative treatment was started. The patient‘s prognosis was unfavourable, and she died within 5 months of the dia­gnosis in hospice care. Key words: primary signet ring cell carcinoma – colon cancer – Crohn‘s disease – colonic stenosis