Cancer Center Virtual Tour

Cervical dysplasia - Overview

Alternative Names

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); Precancerous changes of the cervix

Definition of Cervical dysplasia:

Cervical dysplasia is the abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix. Although this is not cancer, this is considered a precancerous condition.

Cervical dysplasia is grouped into three categories:

CIN I -- mild dysplasia (a few cells are abnormal)
CIN II -- moderate to marked dysplasia
CIN III -- severe dysplasia to carcinoma-in-situ (precancerous cells only in the top layer of the cervix)

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Most cases of cervical dysplasia occur in women aged 25 to 35.

The cause is unknown. However, the following may increase your risk:

Multiple sexual partners
Becoming sexually active before age 18
Giving birth before age 16
If your mother took a drug called diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy
Sexually transmitted infections, especially HIV or HPV (genital warts)

Female reproductive anatomy

Cervical neoplasia

Uterus

Cervical dysplasia - series

Reviewed last on: 5/26/2008
Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Noller KL. Intraepithelial Neoplasia of the Lower Genital Tract (Cervix, Vulva) : Etiology, Screening, Diagnostic Techniques, Management. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007: chap. 28.

Wright TC Jr, Cox JT, Massad LS, Twiggs LB, Wilkinson EJ; ASCCP-Sponsored Consensus Conference. 2001 Consensus Guidelines for the management of women with cervical cytological abnormalities. JAMA. 2002 Apr 24;287(16):2120-9. Review.

Hoffman MS, Martino MA. 2001 consensus guidelines for the management of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Sep;191(3):1049

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