Image 17 of 50



Image Description

Signet ring cell lymphoma is a rare histologic variant of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is not a specific clinicopathologic entity. The neoplastic lymphocytes contain either clear vacuolated cytoplasm or eosinophilic globules, displacing the nucleus to the periphery and creating a signet-ring cell appearance. This feature is superimposed on the background of underlying lymphomatous process. Although initially described as a variant of follicular lymphoma, this finding has now been documented in virtually all types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

This image shows small lymphocytic lymphoma in an axillary lymph node with a prominent sinusoidal pattern. The nodal architecture is effaced by a diffuse proliferation of small uniform lymphocytes with coarse chromatin. Admixed with the small lymphocytes are larger lymphoid cells with abundant cytoplasm containing rounded hyaline globules which displace and/or compress the nucleus, imparting a signet-ring morphology.

Image 17 of 50