What is Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia?

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also called cervical displaysia or precancerous cells of the cervix, refers to the growth of abnormal cells on the cervix found during a biopsy. They progress slowly, so treating CIN has caused a sharp decrease in cases of cervical cancer. The cervix is part of the female anatomy, located at the lower end of the uterus. It connects the uterus and the vagina, and it functions during menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth. Treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia generally does not interfere with these functions.

Abnormal cell growth can be detected during a woman's yearly pap smear examination. The doctor might then request a biopsy to detect how deeply into the skin the abnormal cells have developed. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia has three grades, with stage I being mild, stage II being moderate and stage III being severe. Treatment is recommended before stage III to prevent the development of cancer.

Most cases of CIN come from infection with a common sexually transmitted disease called human papillomavirus (HPV). Most women with HPV do not develop stage III lesions or cervical cancer, but they carry an increased risk and should consider regular testing. With about 100 strains of HPV, symptoms can vary widely. Some varieties cause genital warts, and others cause cancers and other problems. HPV is not herpes and is not a permanent condition. For most people, HPV will run its course in two years or less and not cause any symptoms.

Health providers have three means to test for HPV: a pap smear, a colposcopy and HPV testing of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In a pap smear, cells are collected during a normal female physical and observed under a microscope for abnormal growth. In a colposcopy, cells of the cervix are observed with a special instrument. HPV DNA testing helps determine the type of HPV present so that the risk of associated cancers and other health problems can be known.

There are vaccines for women that prevent transmission of HPV. These vaccines help prevent the development of cervical cancer caused by sexually transmitted diseases. Some vaccines also are available for men and can prevent the development of genital warts caused by human papillomavirus. HPV rarely leads to other cancers, including that of the vulva, penis, anus and head and neck.

Options for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia treatment range from topical creams to surgery. The best treatment depends on the thickness of precancerous growth. Stage I and stage II CIN might never go on to need treatment, though patients might opt for treatment over continued observation.

One of the most widely used treatments is a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Typically done as outpatient surgery, the doctor uses a wire loop to remove affected parts of the cervix. It takes about two weeks to fully recover, but most patients can return to work a day or two after the procedure. The LEEP generally does not present a risk to pregnancy or childbirth.