Ask An Expert: CIN II

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Ask An Expert: CIN II

Question:

Please give me information on CIN II, as found in the cervix. What does the abbreviation stand for?

Answer:

CIN stands for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. It is the precancerous condition detected by Pap smear screening. Cervical cancer develops over a period of time. If the precancerous condition CIN is detected in time, it can be treated to prevent the development of cancer.

Pap smears should be performed on all women periodically. The Pap smear is a sample of cells from the cervix examined in the laboratory for abnormalities. If the cells are abnormal, the patient is advised to have further testing by colposcopy. The colposcope is a magnifying instrument used by the clinician to identify lesions on the cervix. The lesions are biopsied and the tissue is evaluated by microscope.

The degree of abnormality in the precancerous tissue is graded as CIN I (mild), II (moderate), and III (severe). Higher-grade lesions are more likely to progress to cancer, while lower grade lesions will often revert to normal. All high-grade lesions and persistent low-grade CIN lesions should be treated. CIN is treated by excising or destroying the abnormal cells on the cervix.

Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007