In histology, a signet ring cell is a cell with a large vacuole. The malignant type is seen predominantly in carcinomas. Signet ring cells are most frequently associated with stomach cancer, but can a
Signet ring cell, as seen in a case of colon adenocarcinoma with mucinous features, showing a tumor cell with a vacuole of mucin. H&E stain.
Signet ring for comparison.
Gastric signet ring cell carcinoma. H&E stain.
High magnification micrograph showing signet ring cells, with clear cytoplasm, in metastatic breast carcinoma. H&E stain.
Hematoxylin and eosin stain is one of the principal tissue stains used in histology. It is the most widely used stain in medical diagnosis and is often the gold standard. For example, when a pathologi
Retina (part of the eye) stained with hematoxylin and eosin, cell nuclei stained blue-purple and extracellular material stained pink
Rack of slides being removed from a bath of hematoxylin stain
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in breast tissue, cell nuclei (blue-purple), extracellular material (pink)
Lung tissue taken from an emphysema patient. Cell nuclei (blue-purple), red blood cells (bright red), other cell bodies and extracellular material (pink), and air spaces (white).