Cervical Dysplasia
Alternate Names : Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN), Precancerous Changes of the Cervix
Definition Cervical dysplasia is the abnormal growth of the epithelial tissue on the surface of the cervix. It refers to a spectrum or continuum of changes specified as: CIN I -- mild dysplasia; CIN II -- moderate to marked dysplasia; and CIN III -- severe dysplasia to carcinoma-in-situ (cancer localized to the intraepithelial tissue/superficial layer of the cervix).
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
While the cause is unknown, a number of predisposing factors have been identified. Less than 5% of all Pap smear tests conducted note cervical dysplasia. It may occur in women aged 15 and older, with the peak incidence in women aged 25 to 35.
Increased risk is associated with: multiple sexual partners, early onset of sexual activity (at less than age 18), early childbearing (at less than age 16), and past medical history of DES exposure or sexually transmitted diseases, especially HPV (genital warts), genital herpes, or HIV infection.
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