Cancer Colon Cancer Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma Symptoms and Types By Donna Myers Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on December 01, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on March 29, 2020 Print Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum is a common colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and women in the United States . Deaths from colorectal cancer have decreased with the use of colonoscopies and fecal occult blood tests, which check for blood in the stool. Tom Merton / OJO Images / Getty Images Colorectal cancer comes in many forms, including adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma, melanoma and neuroendocrine tumors. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of colorectal cancer and has two subtypes, signet ring cell and mucinous. This article discusses signet ring cell adenocarcinoma. What Is an Adenocarcinoma? "Adeno-" is a prefix that means "gland." In general, glands secrete things and are classified as endocrine or exocrine. Endocrine glands secrete things into the bloodstream, like hormones. Exocrine glands secrete things that go outside of the body, like mucus and sweat. A carcinoma is a malignant tumor that starts in epithelial tissue. Put the two words together and you get "adenocarcinoma," which means a malignant tumor in epithelial tissue, specifically in a gland. The term "signet ring cell" describes the appearance of cancer. To look at cancer cells under a microscope, you have to stain and dehydrate them. Because signet ring cell adenocarcinomas have so much fat in them, once they're dehydrated, the nucleus gets pushed all the way over to one side. This makes the cell look kind of like a ring under the microscope. Signet ring cell adenocarcinomas are considered more aggressive than regular adenocarcinomas and are harder to successfully treat. Other Types of Colorectal Cancer AdenocarcinomaAggressive Neuroendocrine TumorLeiomyosarcomaLymphomaMalignant MelanomaMucinous Adenocarcinoma Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer Diarrhea or constipationA feeling that your bowel does not empty completelyBlood (either bright red or very dark) in your stoolStools that are narrower than usualFrequent gas pains or cramps, or feeling full or bloatedWeight loss with no known reasonFatigueNausea or vomiting Because you may not have symptoms at first, it's important to have screening tests. Everyone over 50 should get screened. Tests include colonoscopy and tests for blood in the stool. Treatments for colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Colorectal Cancer - Patient Version. American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Colon Cancer. Additional Reading Belli, Sedat; Aytac, Huseyin Ozgur; Karagulle, Erdal; Yabanoglu, Hakan; Kayaselcuk, Fazilet; Yildirim, Sedat (2014-01-01). Outcomes of Surgical Treatment of Primary Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Colon and Rectum: 22 Cases Reviewed With Literature. International Surgery. 99(6): 691–698. doi:10.9738/INTSURG-D-14-00067.1 Paplomata, Elisavet; Wilfong, Lalan (2011-07-20). Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Ampulla of Vater With Leptomeningeal Metastases: A Case Report. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 29 (21): e627–e629.doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.35.2385