Signet-ring carcinoma of the prostate

Abstract

A case of prostatic signet-ring adenocarcinoma is described in a man with a history of open prostatectomy for prostate carcinoma (18 years previously). Immunostaining confirmed the prostatic origin of the signet-ring tumor which stained for prostatic acid phosphatase (PSAP) and prostate specific antigen (PSA). Cytokeratin immunostaining showed the vacuoles to be true lamina with clear and distinct outlines, the feature confirmed by ultrastructural examination. This aggressive tumor is an uncommon but distinct variant of primary prostatic carcinoma which should be distinguished from artefactual vacuolation of tumor, inflammatory and stromal cells, and metastatic disease.