Atypical scaly epithelial cells

Atypical scaly cells refer to atypical proliferation of scaly epithelial or glandular epithelial cells. Mild atypical hyperplasia can be treated by surgical resection, while severe atypical hyperplasia can lead to carcinoma in situ. Therefore, I hope everyone can understand the cause and symptoms of this disease so that they can treat the problem of atypical scaly cell hyperplasia in a timely manner.

Atypical hyperplasia often occurs in squamous epithelium, but can also occur in glandular epithelium. Atypical squamous epithelial hyperplasia can be divided into three grades: mild, moderate, and severe according to the degree of atypia and/or the scope of involvement. If this change involves 1/2 of the lower part of the epithelium, it is mild atypical hyperplasia; if it involves more than 1/2-2/3 of the lower part of the epithelium, it is severe atypical hyperplasia; if it involves the entire layer of the epithelium, it has become carcinoma in situ. Mild to moderate atypical hyperplasia can return to normal after the cause is eliminated. Severe atypical hyperplasia is difficult to reverse and often turns into cancer. Intraepithelial neoplasia includes atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma in situ. Mild, moderate and severe atypical hyperplasia are called intraepithelial neoplasia grade I, II and III respectively, and carcinoma in situ is also included in intraepithelial neoplasia grade III. The above-mentioned precancerous diseases and lesions often become cancerous through atypical hyperplasia.

Symptoms of atypical hyperplasia Atypical hyperplasia generally has no obvious symptoms. If obvious symptoms appear, it is possible that the lesion has progressed to cancer. The common manifestations are as follows: (1) Mucosal leukoplakia. It often occurs in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, esophagus, vulva, etc. The lesions appear as white patches to the naked eye, and under the microscope, the squamous epithelium is hyperproliferated and keratinized with a certain degree of atypia. The lesions may develop into squamous cell carcinoma. (2) Cervical erosion. It refers to the replacement of the squamous epithelium of the cervical vagina by columnar epithelium from the endocervical canal. During the healing of erosions, reserve cells proliferate and metaplasia into squamous epithelium. Chronic inflammatory processes can lead to incomplete squamous cell carcinoma and dysplasia, a small number of which may develop into cervical squamous cell carcinoma. (3) Fibrocystic breast disease. It mainly features proliferation and cystic changes of mammary lobular duct and alveolar epithelial cells, among which those accompanied by intraductal papillary hyperplasia are more likely to develop cancer. (4) Multiple polyposis of the colon. There is often a family history, which can lead to adenocarcinoma. (5) Chronic atrophic gastritis. Intestinal metaplasia can occur in the gastric mucosal glands, which has a certain relationship with the occurrence of gastric cancer.

Treatment of atypical hyperplasia:

Treatment of atypical hyperplasia depends on the extent of the disease. For mild lesions, treatment is generally not required, but regular follow-up should be performed. However, for moderate and severe lesions, since they are difficult to clear by themselves, appropriate treatment is required. Clinically, methods for treating moderate and severe lesions are generally divided into two categories: physical therapy and surgical resection.

Physical therapy: This includes laser therapy and cryotherapy, which destroys abnormal tissue by heating or freezing it.

Surgical resection: Abnormal tissue is removed surgically. The removed tissue can also be used for pathology to make a tissue diagnosis (hence it is also called a biopsy).