by Elaine Parrish

Created on: September 07, 2009

Is carcinoma in situ neoplasia or dysplasia?

A carcinoma (car-suh-no-mah) is a cancer of the skin cells. In situ (in-SIGH-too) is a term from the Latin that translates to 'at this site' or 'point of origin'. Therefore, carcinoma in situ (CIS) is cancer contained to the site of origin. It is no longer dysplasia/neoplasia. It is cancer, but it is non-invasive cancer (also known as cancer, stage 0) and is cancer detected at its earliest point before it invades surrounding tissue.

Intraepithelial Neoplasia (Intra epee-thel-eee-ell knee-o-PLAY-zhuh) simply translated means new (neo) growth of cells that are not normal (plasia) in the outer layer (named 'epithelial') of the skin cells and contained to this area (intra). These pre-cancerous cells form a lesion also called dysplasia (dis-PLAY-zhuh). Dysplasia is also known as 'squamous intraepithelial lesions' (SIL), so-named because it occurs within the epithelial layer (outer layer) of skin cells (named 'squamous'). These abnormal cell conditions are commonly described as Intraepithelial Neoplasia. Technically, neoplasia is new growth (that is not normal) and dysplasia is the existence of that new growth, which manifests itself as a lesion. The two terms are commonly used interchangeably. These (dysplasia, neoplasia, and squamous intraepithelial lesions) are considered a pre-cancerous condition. However, if not treated, they can progress to cancer.

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of non-normal cells. The abnormal cells grow, and in doing so, destroy healthy cells. At some point, the cancer cells create a situation where the body can no longer function. With dysplasia, the abnormal cells are not as destructive. However, if the abnormal cells start to grow uncontrollably into the deeper layers of the skin, then they move from the category of dysplasia into the category of cancer. This growth into the deeper layers constitutes 'invasive' cancer.

The most prevalent of the gynecologic dysplasia conditions are CIN (Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia), VIN (Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia), and VaIN (Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia). In addition, there are PaIN (Perianal [peri means around] Intraepithelial Neoplasia) and AIN (Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia) in the gynecologic category.

There are three categories of dysplasia - Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III. Stage I may be "fixed" by the body's immune system, so some doctors employ a 'wait and watch' period. Stage II and III should be treated medically. The line

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