Cervical dysplasia is a term used to describe the
appearance of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix, the lowest part
of the uterus. These changes in cervical tissue are classified as mild,
moderate, or severe. While dysplasia itself does not cause health problems,
it is considered to be a precancerous condition. Left untreated, dysplasia
sometimes progresses to an early form of cancer known as cervical carcinoma
in situ, and eventually to invasive cervical cancer.
It can take 10 years or longer for
cervical dysplasia to develop into cancer. Dysplasia can be detected from a
Pap smear, the single most important step that a woman can take to prevent
cervical cancer. 
Mild dysplasia is the most common
form, and up to 70% of these cases regress on their own (i.e., the cervical
tissue returns to normal without treatment). Moderate and severe dysplasia
are less likely to self-resolve and
have a higher rate of progression to cancer. The greater the abnormality,
the higher the risk for developing cervical cancer.
Detecting and treating dysplasia early is essential to prevent cancer. For
this reason, most physicians quickly remove suspicious cervical lesions and
require frequent Pap smears to monitor for recurrences.
Incidence and Prevalence
Every year, between 250,000 and 1 million women in the United States are
diagnosed with cervical dysplasia. While it can occur at any age, the peak
incidence is in women between the ages of 25 to 35. Most dysplasia cases can
be cured with proper treatment and follow-up. Without treatment, 30% to 50%
may progress to invasive cancer.
Risk Factors
Risk factors increase the frequency of occurrence. Several risk factors
have been linked to dysplasia including
multiple sexual partners,
early onset of sexual activity,
cigarette smoking,
and sexually transmitted diseases, especially
human papillomavirus (HPV)
and HIV infection.
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see pause.]
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