Abstract
We experienced four cases of diffuse infiltrating carcinoma of the colon. In each case, curative resection was impossible because the carcinoma invaved beyond the wall of the colon and lymph node metastasis was far advanced. All the 4 patients died during 718 months after surgery. There was no ulceration or tumor in the resected specimens except one in which shallow erosion was observed. Histological examination revealed poorly differeantiated adenocarcinoma in two cases, signet ring cell carcinoma and mucinous carcnoma in each one case, highly invaded lymphatic vessels being observed in all cases.
To our knowldege, 160 cases of diffuse infiltrating carcinoma of the colon have been already reported in Japan. When compared with other colon carcinomas diffuse infiltrating carcinoma is predominant in youngers, most commonly found in the lower colon, and often has shorter period of the disease. There are few curative resection cases, and most cases resist to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The prognosis is extremely poor. Histopathologically these carcinomas are said to be comprised of signet ring cell carcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and diffuse infilteating type due to invasion of lymph vessel and interstitial proliferation, however, we often encounter complicated features, in that further studies of its histologic genesis are probably needed.
