Cervical Dysplasia
ABOUT THIS CONDITION
Understanding Cervical Dysplasia
Cervical dysplasia is a precancerous condition in which abnormal cells grow on the surface of your neck of the womb (cervix). Another name for cervical dysplasia is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or CIN.
Hearing the word “precancerous” can be scary, but it’s important to remember that most people with cervical dysplasia don’t get cancer. Receiving a cervical dysplasia diagnosis means that you may — not that you will — develop cervical cancer if you don't adhere to the recommended screening and treatments.
Cervical dysplasia was once classified as mild, moderate or severe, based on how likely abnormal cells would become cancerous. Mild cervical dysplasia (CIN1) rarely becomes cancer and often goes away on its own. Moderate (CIN2) and severe (CIN3) are more likely to require treatment to prevent cervical cancer.
You can get cervical dysplasia if you become infected with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Nonetheless, having HPV doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll develop cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia doesn’t usually cause symptoms. Instead, it is usually diagnosed after finding abnormal cells during a routine smear (Pap) test. Some people may have irregular vaginal spotting after intercourse. If the Pap smear is unclear or reveals abnormal cells, the next step might be a colposcopy to examine your cervix. Should any abnormal areas be visulised at colposcopic examination, biopsies may be taken to remove tissue samples that’ll be examined in a laboratory.
Treatment of Cervical Dysplasia
Treatment depends on various factors, including the severity of your cervical dysplasia, age, health and treatment preferences. With mild dysplasia (CIN 1), you likely won’t need treatment. In the majority of these cases, the condition goes away on its own. Only about 1% of cases progress to cervical cancer. A conservative approach that calls for periodic Pap smears to monitor any changes in abnormal cells can be followed. If your cervical dysplasia is more severe (CIN 2 or CIN 3), the abnormal cells that may become cancerous should be removed. The procedure is called large loop excision of the tranformation zone (LLETZ). A hysterectomy may be an option in cases where cervical dysplasia persists or doesn’t improve after other procedures.
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 as a lead colposcopist at several Tertiary Hospitals in Great Britain.