Moderate dysplasia is abnormal growth of cells on the cervix caused by HPV. It is usually detected through Pap smears and can lead to cervical cancer if left untreated. Treatment options include laser therapy, cryotherapy, LEEP, and cone biopsy.
Moderate dysplasia is a medical term that refers to the abnormal growth of cells on the outer layer of the cervix in women. It is usually caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease. Women with this level of abnormal growth typically notice no physical symptoms, and a diagnosis is made only after a doctor receives abnormal Pap smear results. Treatment procedures to remove damaged tissue are usually effective, and most women experience a full recovery. A case of dysplasia that goes undetected or untreated, however, can lead to cervical cancer.
HPV doesn’t always cause dysplasia, but the disease is a significant warning sign that abnormal growth of cervical tissue may be occurring. The presence of this virus can result in dysplastic cells, cells that do not mature properly and tend to spread through the outer layer of the cervix. These cells are considered precancerous because, without treatment, it is highly possible for carcinoma and eventual cervical cancer to emerge.
Dysplasia is classified according to the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) scale. CIN recognizes mild, moderate and severe dysplasia based on the number of damaged cells and the progression of the cancerous condition. In a cervix with moderate dysplasia, about half of the total tissue is affected. Moderate and severe cases are considered high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and are at the highest risk of developing cancer. Early detection and diagnosis are essential to prevent this from happening.
Gynecologists usually notice the first signs of dysplasia when they do routine Pap smears that reveal the presence of HPV. Closer inspection of the cervix may reveal visible lesions on abnormal tissue. A doctor may perform a biopsy of cervical tissue to further inspect its contents and determine the stage of progression based on the CIN. Some cases of dysplasia naturally dissolve over time, but most gynecologists prefer to attempt treatment procedures to ensure proper recovery.
Treatment for moderate dysplasia can take the form of laser therapy, cryotherapy, a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), or a cone biopsy. A healthcare professional can try to destroy damaged cells with specialized lasers or freeze them with carbon dioxide in cryotherapy. In a LEEP, the gynecologist uses an electrified wire loop to scrape away the abnormal cells. In severe cases, larger areas of tissue are excised in a cone-shaped biopsy. When treatment is effective in removing all abnormal cells, a woman is likely to experience a full recovery.
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