Case Report
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2009; 15(7): 888-891
Published online Feb 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.888
Signet-ring cell carcinoma of ampulla of Vater: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings
Jin-Mei Gao, Shao-Shan Tang, Wei Fu, Rong Fan
Jin-Mei Gao, Shao-Shan Tang, Wei Fu, Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
Rong Fan, Department of Pathology, Jinshan Hospital of Benxi city, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Gao JM collected patient’s information, organized and wrote the manuscript; Tang SS dealt with the figures and manuscript writing; Fu W supervised and approved the final manuscript; Fan R examined the resected tumor and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Shao-Shan Tang, Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China University, 36 Heping Street, Sanhao District, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China. tangss@sj-hospital.org
Telephone: +86-24-83956537
Fax: +86-24-23892617
Received: October 31, 2008
Revised: December 29, 2008
Accepted: January 6, 2009
Published online: February 21, 2009
Abstract

Signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of ampulla of Vater is extremely uncommon, and less than 15 cases have been reported so far in literature. It mainly occurs in elderly people (median age 57 years). We report a rare case of SRCC of the ampulla of Vater in a 38-year-old woman who presented with a small tumor at the Vater, discovered by the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Histopathological examination showed prominent signet-ring features. We also describe the imaging features of SRCC of ampulla of Vater in CEUS.

Keywords: Signet-ring cell carcinoma, Ampulla of Vater, Contrast-enhanced ultrasound