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Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also known as cervical dysplasia, is the abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix that could potentially lead to cervical cancer. [1] More specifically, CIN refers to the potentially precancerous transformation of cells of the cervix.
A precancerous condition is a condition, tumor or lesion involving abnormal cells which are associated with an increased risk of developing into cancer. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Clinically, precancerous conditions encompass a variety of abnormal tissues with an increased risk of developing into cancer.
The Papanicolaou test (abbreviated as Pap test, also known as Pap smear (AE), [1] cervical smear (BE), cervical screening (BE), [2] or smear test (BE)) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes in the cervix (opening of the uterus or womb) or, more rarely, anus (in both men and women). [3]
Cervical cancer typically develops from precancerous changes called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia over 10 to 20 years. [3] About 75% of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, 20-25% are adenocarcinoma, 3% are adenosquamous carcinomas and less than 1% are small cell neuroendocrine tumors of the cervix. [19]
Individuals with a cervix should start having Pap smears to check for cervical cancer or precancer from age 21 years. Precancer is when unusual cells suggest cancer might develop in the future.
Even though it was once thought to no longer occur past the age of 30, it is still seen in the 40s and 50s. Some of the main signs and symptoms for clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina are spotting between menstrual cycles, bleeding post-menopause, abnormal bleeding, and malignant pericardial effusion or cardiac tamponade. [4]
Potentially precancerous changes in the cervix can be detected by cervical screening, using methods including a Pap smear (also called a cervical smear), in which epithelial cells are scraped from the surface of the cervix and examined under a microscope. [49]
Endocervical curettage is a medical procedure used to extract cells of the endocervix to visualize under a microscope. Direct cervical visualization, colposcopy, and even endocervical colposcopy are not enough to fully analyze all areas of the endocervical epithelium and thus endocervical curettage is the method of choice in cases where this is necessary.