A precancerous cervical lesion, which is also called an intraepithelial lesion, is an abnormality in the cells of your cervix that could eventually develop into cervical cancer. There are two main types of cervical cells, squamous and glandular, and abnormalities can occur in either type. The most common types of precancerous cervical lesions include:
Atypical squamous cells. If your doctor tells you that you have atypical squamous cells, it means that abnormalities have been detected in the squamous cells of your cervix. This can indicate that you have a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, another infection, or possibly precancerous cells of another cause. Your doctor may recommend further testing to determine what the abnormalities mean for you. In some cases, this may simply mean a repeat Pap test in a few months. A Pap test with this kind of finding may be reported as “atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance,” abbreviated as ASCUS.Squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL). This lesion means that you have changes on your cervix that may be precancerous. SIL lesions are classified as either low-grade (LSIL) or high-grade (HSIL), with high-grade lesions being more likely to progress to cervical cancer.Atypical glandular cells. These signal a possible precancerous lesion in the upper area of your cervix or inside the uterus.
Testing and Treating a Precancerous Cervical Lesion A Pap test screens for cancer or a precancerous condition; it is not used to diagnose a condition. So if your Pap test indicates that you might have a precancerous cervical lesion, your doctor probably will recommend further testing. The screening recommended for you depends on a number of factors, including your age, menopausal status, Pap test results, and whether you are pregnant. Follow-up testing may include one or more of the following:
Repeat Pap test. Some women just need another Pap test within a few months to see if the abnormality is still present.HPV testing. Since many abnormalities are caused by an HPV infection, your doctor may recommend that your cervical cells be tested for HPV. Some types of HPV infection clear on their own and don’t tend to cause precancerous changes or cancer, but others, if not cleared by the body, are more likely to cause cancer.Colposcopy. This test allows your doctor to get a better look at your cervix through a magnifying device.Cervical biopsy. This involves removing a small sample of your cervical tissue and sending it to a lab for testing.Endometrial sampling. This involves taking a sample of your endometrium, or uterine lining, for study in a lab.
If this testing determines that you do, in fact, have a precancerous cervical lesion, there are treatments that can help reduce the chances that the lesion will develop into cervical cancer. Treatment options for a precancerous cervical lesion include:
Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). A thin, electrically charged wire is used to remove abnormal lesions from your cervix.Freezing (cryotherapy). Some precancerous cervical lesions can be destroyed by freezing them with a cold probe; this causes them to eventually shed from your cervix.Laser treatment. The precancerous cervical lesion is destroyed with a beam of laser light.Conization. A small, cone-shaped piece of tissue containing the abnormal area of the cervix is removed surgically.
It can be scary to find out that you have a precancerous cervical lesion, but keep in mind that having a lesion does not mean that you will get cervical cancer. In fact, early treatment of a precancerous cervical lesion can almost always help women avoid getting cervical cancer.
