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CIN Grades

Abnormal cells found on the surface of a woman’s cervix are referred to as Cervical Intra-epithelial Neoplasia (CIN). CIN is divided into three classifications, used to describe how far these cell changes have developed in the surface layer of the cervix. The changes in cells can be graded as CIN 1, CIN 2 or CIN 3. The higher the grade, the greater the surface area of the cervix is affected by these cells – below we outline the different CIN grades and what they mean.

The CIN 1 grade is used to describe mild dyskaryosis, which signifies mild changes to the cervical cells. This affects only one-third of the cervical surface area. The changes definitely do not signify cancer and in the majority of cases will not cause cancer in the future. CIN1 usually corresponds to infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and will often resolve by itself within 12 to 24 months. Usually, no treatment is required for an abnormal smear showing only mild dyskaryosis. However, a repeat smear test after six months is necessary to monitor changes.

A CIN 2 grade refers to two-thirds of the thickness of the surface layer of the cervix showing cell changes. It is used to describe moderate dyskaryosis and again, does not mean cancer. A colposcopy should be carried out when a CIN 2 grade is detected and following this, treatment may be required to remove the abnormal cells.

CIN 3 refers to severe dyskaryosis and affects the full thickness of the cervix surface. Even with this result, it is unlikely that a woman already has cervical cancer. However, it is important to treat severe dyskaryosis as soon as the changes are detected. Treatment is used to remove the abnormal area so that these cells do not develop into cancer in the future.

The colposcopy examination is an important next step in determining if treatment will be needed. It allows for detailed inspection and investigation of the cervical tissue and helps to identify cervical abnormalities which may become more serious if left untreated.

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High Grade Dyskaryosis

If you have recently undergone a routine cervical screening, then you may have received a letter stating that your smear was abnormal and pre-cancerous cells are present. High-grade smears include moderate and severe pre-cancerous cell changes, which often require treatment after an initial cervical screening.

Though this diagnosis means it is unlikely that you already have cancer, the abnormal smear test result from the cervical screening sample indicates that if these changes were to be left untreated, they could develop into cancer in the future.

Not all unusual cells require immediate treatment.

We may recommend a surveillance, or “watch and wait” approach for younger women whose cervical screening detected abnormal smears. This is because in these age groups changes may regress back to normal without intervention.

What causes Dyskaryosis?

Dyskaryosis is normally caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is almost always transmitted through sexual activity. Research tends to agree that, high-risk HPV strains 16 and 18 are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases. Genital HPV is easily passed through skin-on-skin contact as well as genital contact and oral sex. The HPV virus can remain dormant for a very long time and most people show no symptoms, so there is often no way of knowing if you are HPV positive or when and from whom you contracted HPV.

Practicing safe sex by using condoms or other barrier methods can help to reduce the risk of HPV contraction, but since the virus lives on the skin around the entire genital area, it cannot completely remove the risk of transmission.

There are around 100 HPV strains, 20 of which are thought to cause cancer. Some strains are higher risk than others, particularly types 16 and 18 which are most prevalent and are more likely to cause dyskaryosis. These two strains are responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancers.

How common is High Grade Dyskaryosis?

Around 80% of the world’s population will contract some type of HPV in their life and most of the time their immune system will naturally work to rid the body of the virus without treatment. However, a small percentage of people will not be able to clear the infection.

A vaccination is now available through the NHS in the UK to protect against these HPV strains. However, if the infection is already present before vaccination and the changes to cells have already taken place, then it will not be effective.

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Colposcopy Examination

An expert in colposcopy should assess every patient with cervical changes, to establish the true nature of the diagnosis.

A colposcopy is a simple examination used to examine the cervix and the results can determine whether treatment to remove the cells is needed.

The examination usually takes around 10-12 minutes and involves inspecting the vaginal and cervical tissues using a type of microscope which magnifies the cervix surface between 10 and 40 times its size. A small tissue sample may be taken from the cervix for further examination.

In many cases where it is clear that abnormal cells need to be removed, the medical professional who is carrying out the colposcopy will offer same-day treatment to remove the cells, if the procedure is a relatively straightforward one. Where biopsy results are necessary to determine if cells need removal, or where the procedure needed is more extensive, a separate appointment will be offered.

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Treatment for High Grade Dyskaryosis

Once a colposcopy has been carried out and abnormal cervical cells are found, your doctor may suggest dyskaryosis treatment to remove them. This is particularly recommended when there is a moderate to high chance of these cells developing into cancer if left untreated.

The aim of all treatments is to remove the potentially dangerous cells while minimising any damage to the healthy cervical tissue. While many people will envisage large inner cervical sections being extracted, in actual fact, normally only an area roughly the size of a fingertip will be removed.

There are several different treatment options used to remove abnormal cells. With high-grade dyskaryosis, the most common one is Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone (LLETZ), which involves using a thin electrically-heated wire loop to remove the abnormal cells while awake and under local anaesthetic.

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