Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia?

• Cervical intraepithelial (in-trah-ep-i-THEE-le-al) neoplasia is also called cervical dysplasia, or CIN. CIN occurs when there are changes in the cells on the surface of your cervix. The cervix is the bottom part of your uterus (womb).
  
  
• CIN itself is not cancer. With time, these cervical cell changes may grow smaller and disappear. Sometimes the cell changes never go away or go away and return. The cell changes may develop into cancer. It is very important that CIN be found and treated early.

What causes CIN? An infection by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) is often found in people with CIN. An HPV infection is usually a sexually transmitted disease (STD). HPV is the most common cause of CIN and cervical cancer. You may have CIN if you have many sex partners, or your partner has many sex partners. The following may put you at higher risk for having CIN:

• Cigarette smoking.
  
  
• Exposure to certain medicines, such as diethylstilbestrol (DES).
  
  
• Having children before age 16.
  
  
• Having sex for the first time before age 18.

What are the signs and symptoms of CIN? You may not have any signs or symptoms of CIN.

How is CIN diagnosed? CIN is usually found after you have tests. Your tests may include one or more of the following:

• Pap smear: Caregivers take a sample of cells from your cervix when doing a Pap smear test. This sample is sent to a lab for tests. Most women should have a Pap smear done every year.
  
  
• Colposcopy: You may have a colposcopy if your Pap smear test shows that you have CIN. A colposcopy uses a magnifying scope outside of the vagina to look at the cervix. Ask your caregiver for more information about having a colposcopy.
  
  
  • Biopsy: If abnormal cells are seen on your cervix, your caregiver will take a sample of these cells. The sample will be sent to the lab for tests.
    
    
  
  
• Human papilloma virus DNA test: This is a test done at the same time that a Pap smear is done. Caregivers will learn if you have the human papilloma virus (HPV).

How do caregivers classify CIN? Caregivers classify CIN based upon how thick and how deep abnormal cells are found on your cervix.

• CIN I: This is also called mild CIN. This occurs when there are only a few abnormal cells found on the surface of your cervix.
  
  
• CIN II: This is also called moderate CIN. This occurs when one-half of the whole thickness (lining) of your cervix has abnormal cells.
  
  
• CIN III: This is also called severe CIN or carcinoma-in-situ. This means that the whole thickness of your cervix has abnormal cells. This often progresses to cancer and may spread if not treated early.

How is CIN treated? No treatment is usually needed in mild CIN. Your caregiver may want you to have more frequent Pap tests. You may also need to have more frequent colposcopies to see if the cells have changed. You may have any of the following treatments if you have moderate to severe CIN:

• Cautery: A small metal rod that uses electric current is used to burn away abnormal cervical cells.
  
  
• Conization: Surgery may be done to remove a cone-shaped part of your cervix. This is done if abnormal cells, possibly cancerous, have gone into the cervical canal. A conization may also be done if abnormal cells cover a large area of the cervix.
  
  
• Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy uses a cold gas to freeze abnormal cells on the cervix. The freezing kills the cells so they cannot grow and spread.
  
  
• Laser therapy: Laser therapy uses intense light on the abnormal cells to destroy them.
  
  
• Loop electrosurgical excisional procedure: This procedure is also called LEEP. A fine-wire loop is attached to an electrical machine. The loop is used to cut out abnormal cells from the cervix.

Where can I find more information? Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia can be a life-changing disease for you and your family. Accepting that you have CIN may be hard. You may want to contact the following for more information:

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  409 12th Street, SW
  Washington, DC 20090
  Phone: 1-202-638-5577
  Web Address: http://www.acog.org
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page