Severe Cervical Dysplasia

Women with severe cervical dysplasia are at the highest risk of cancer of the cervix. Cervical dysplasia is diagnosed when there have been found pathological cellular transformations in the cervical tissue. There are three stages of dysplasia: mild, moderate and severe, which are determined according to the amount of pathological transformations in the cervical epithelium. Cervical dysplasia is considered to be severe if the entire thickness of cervical epithelium is affected by the disease.

Severe cervical dysplasia usually develops from mild or moderate forms of the disease. Severe dysplasia is likely to occur in patients who have had prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol, sexual contacts with numerous partners, started sexual activity at an early age, experienced problems with immune system etc. It has also been found that severe cervical dysplasia, as well as cervical cancer, is mostly detected in women infected by human papillomavirus.

It is possible to prevent severe cervical dysplasia if dyplastic changes of the tissue are found at an early stage. Yearly pelvic examinations and Pap smear testing make it possible to detect cervical dysplasia early. Pap smear is a cytological test which is aimed to find different cervical abnormalities. The use of this test has shown its efficacy in early screening of cervical precancerous and cancerous conditions, that is why Pap smear testing is recommended for all sexually active women as soon as they begin sexual activity or from the age of 18.

The diagnosis of severe cervical dysplasia requires the evaluation of cervical tissues through colposcopic examination and biopsy. These procedures allow to analyze the size and location of dysplastic changes. The aim of colposcopic examination is to assess cervical and vaginal tissues status with the help of a special magnifying device – colposcope. Biopsy, which is most often performed during colposcopy, consists of taking a sample of tissue for laboratory analysis to better evaluate cervical lesions and make an accurate diagnosis.

It is frequently recommended that severe cervical lesions will be removed by a surgery. If severe cervical dysplasia is not treated it is very likely to progress into cancer. The regression of severe cervical lesions without surgical treatment occurs very rarely. It is possible to destroy severe cervical dysplasia by electric current, laser and freezing or to remove it by scalpel.