Vulval Dysplasia
ABOUT THIS CONDITION
Understanding vulval dysplasia
Vulval dysplasia is also called vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). This “precancer” starts in the skin of your vulva, when the cells undergo abnormal changes. If left untreated, VIN can progress to vulval cancer. VIN is divided into categories, low-grade VIN or high-grade VIN. High-grade VIN is associated with a greater risk of progressing to vulval cancer. VIN symptoms include:
- Itching or burning on the vulva
- Visible skin colour changes to white, grey, pink, reddish, or dark brown
- Skin thickening or a new growth that looks like a wart
- Cracks or ulcerations in the vulvar skin
Most cases of VIN can be cured with proper treatment and follow-up. If left untreated, VIN can progress to vulvar cancer. Treatment options include:
- Surgical excision, which involves cutting away the affected area with a margin of normal tissue around it.
- Laser ablation, which uses a laser beam to burn away abnormal tissue.
- Topical therapy, which applies medication to the affected area for several weeks. These medications might be imiquimod and fluorouracil (5-FU).
Vaginal Dysplasia
ABOUT THIS CONDITION
Understanding vaginal dysplasia
Vaginal dysplasia is also called vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, or VaIN. This “precancer” starts in the skin inside your vagina, when the cells undergo abnormal changes. If left untreated, VaIN can progress to vaginal cancer. It’s classified as low grade or high grade based on how severe the abnormality is. High-grade VaIN is associated with a greater risk of progressing to vaginal cancer.
Most women with VAIN have no symptoms, except perhaps abnormal vaginal bleeding, including bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex, and abnormal discharge. VaIN diagnosis includes a pelvic exam with Pap test and a speculum and a colposcopy. Most cases of VAIN are found during cervical cancer screening.
Most cases of VaIN can be cured with proper treatment and follow-up. If left untreated, VIN can progress to vaginal cancer. Treatment options include:
- Watchful management for low-grade VaIN, which involves watching and waiting to make sure the affected areas don’t progress to high-grade VaIN or vaginal cancer. You may need exams with a Pap smear and colposcopy every few months.
- Surgical excision, which involves cutting away the affected area with a margin of normal tissue around it.
- Laser ablation, which uses a laser beam to burn away abnormal tissue.
- Topical therapy, which involves applying medication to the affected area for several weeks. These medications might be imiquimod, fluorouracil (5-FU), or oestrogen cream.
- Radiation therapy, which uses high-energy beams targeted at the abnormal tissue to treat more serious cases of VaIN.
About Dr. Tranoulis
Dr. Tranoulis is a double board-certified colposcopist by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) and British Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP). He completed his training in diagnostic and therapeutic colposcopy according to the curriculum of the British Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP) and gained in-depth knowledge of the UK Cervical Screening Program, one of the most successful worldwide. He has extensive experience in investigating and managing women with vulval and vaginal precancerous and malignant conditions.