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Case Reports
. 2021 Apr;12(7):1122-1125.
doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.13887. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the lung in an HIV-positive patient

Alberto Testori  1 , Gianluca Perroni  1 , Camilla De Carlo  2 , Alessandro Crepaldi  1 , Marco Alloisio  1 , Ugo Cioffi  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the lung in an HIV-positive patient

Alberto Testori et al. Thorac Cancer. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Primary lung signet-ring cell carcinomas are a rare entity and only a few cases of pure signet-ring cell carcinomas of the lung are reported in the English literature. They usually have an aggressive behavior and a poor prognosis because in most cases they are identified at an advanced stage. We present a unique case of primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the lung because the patient was HIV positive, a heavy smoker, and also the tumor, discovered incidentally during chest x-ray, was a pure type of signet-ring cell carcinoma. Surgical therapy associated with chemoradiotherapy represents the gold standard in the care of these patients.

Keywords: chemotherapy; lung; prognosis; signet-ring cell carcinoma; surgical therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the contributing authors have any conflict of interest, including specific financial interests or relationships and affiliations relevant to the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
CT scan showing a 15‐mm nodule located in the lateral segment of the middle lobe
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
A maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) of 7 was detected within the nodule at PET/CT scan
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of a lung specimen from the considered patient. (a) and (b) H&E (20× and 40×, respectively) showing signet‐ring cells with abundant intracytoplasmic mucin and peripheral nuclei. (c) Negative nuclear CDX‐2 antibody of the neoplastic population. (d) TTF‐1 nuclear positive staining. (e) Abundant cytoplasmic and membranous positivity for CK7. (f) Napsin a antibody presenting a diffuse membranous and cytoplasmic granular staining
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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