What is Dysplasia?
Dysplasia is when there is an increase in irregular cells in either tissue or organs. Dysplasia is a precancerous state and can be found in any area of the body. Prior to developing into dysplasia, the irregular cells went through a phase called hyperplasia. The cells still appear normal under the microscope but are rapidly multiplying. The cells hit dysplasia once they begin to look abnormal under the microscope.
Causes of Dysplasia
The cause of dysplasia will vary between all patients. They all vary in severity and not all develop into cancer. It can spark due to genetic mutations, chronic inflammation, various infections, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and exposure to toxins. For some, dysplasia can come from a mutation in the DNA of a fetus.
When it comes to the level of dysplasia that someone is battling, there are two grades that it can be categorized into. These are:
- Low-grade dysplasia: mild abnormalities in the tissue or organs that are unlikely to develop into cancer.
- High-grade dysplasia: severe abnormalities in the tissue or organs that hold a higher chance of developing into cancer.
Because dysplasia can happen anywhere in the body and has multiple levels of severity, the observed symptoms will be different between all patients.
Treatment for Dysplasia
The final diagnosis of the severity and location of your dysplasia will determine your treatment plan. For some low-grade dysplasia patients, no immediate treatment will be needed, and it will only require being monitored. Some cases of high-grade dysplasia will require surgery to remove abnormal tissue. Additionally, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to kill the abnormal tissue and help prevent it from developing into cancer.