Dysplasia is abnormal cell growth that can indicate cancer. It is most common in the cervix and can be detected early with regular screenings. Fibrous dysplasia weakens bones, while diastrophic dysplasia is a rare congenital disorder with various symptoms.
Dysplasia is characterized by abnormal growth of cells of a certain tissue and in some cases it can be indicative of cancer. The word dysplasia comes from the Greek and, roughly translated, means “bad formation”. When a growth forms in an area of tissue, it generally consists of an expanded area of immature cells, meaning that, among other things, there are fewer mature, healthy cells found in the area. By definition, dysplasia remains in the tissue in which it originates, rather than spreading to other tissues or organs. The cells that form a growth like this are undifferentiated, just like the cells in a cancerous tumor.
One of the most common contexts in which dysplasia occurs is in the female cervix. The risk of a simple growth turning into a carcinoma, i.e. a cancerous growth, is low, and even when this does occur, it can take ten years or more. However, it is important to pursue treatment quickly and remove any suspicious growths. In most cases, the growth will never come back and would have about a 50/50 chance of going away on its own if left untreated. Of course, this is a risk that few doctors or patients would be willing to take.
Abnormal cervical cells are usually detected early following a Pap smear. Early diagnosis is very helpful in reducing the likelihood of a growth progressing to become cancer. There are usually no symptoms at first, further emphasizing the importance of regular screenings to detect any problems. Millions of women develop cervical dysplasia each year, but the risk can be reduced by avoiding smoking and high-risk sexual behaviors, as well as by consuming a nutritious diet supplemented with folic acid.
There are other, less common types of growths as well, including fibrous dysplasia. In this disorder, fibrous scar-like tissue develops in otherwise healthy bone tissue. Compared to healthy bone mass, it is soft and weakens the bone as it expands. Bone deformation and brittleness may develop as this condition progresses. Most cases of this disorder are observed in patients under the age of 15, and its cause is still unknown.
Diastrophic dysplasia is a rare congenital disorder, also known as diastrophic dwarfism. This disorder is not strictly an abnormal growth of cells, but can include any or all of many different symptoms, including spina bifida, clubfeet, malformations in the tissues of the head and face, as well as abnormalities in bones and joints throughout the body . Many of the conditions that can occur as part of this disorder can lead to serious or life-threatening complications.
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