Image Description
Mucinous variant makes up 10% of all colorectal carcinomas. It is characterized by large collections of extracellular mucin (MUC2 type) comprising at least 50% of the tumor. The glandular component is usually well-differentiated and consists of irregular, branching or anastomosing glands lined by tall columnar epithelium with minimal cytologic atypia and low mitotic activity (as shown here). The presence of mucin in the stroma incites a strong desmoplastic and inflammatory response.