• Consumer Health: Understanding cervical dysplasia

a serious-looking middle-aged woman sitting on a couch, with her arms wrapped around her knees

Cervical dysplasia is a term that can be reported on a Pap smear result. It indicates that abnormal cells were found on the surface of the cervix. These could be squamous intraepithelial lesions, atypical squamous cells or glandular cells.

Cervical dysplasia can range from mild to severe, depending on the appearance of the abnormal cells. Rarely, it can develop into cervical cancer.

In most cases, mild dysplasia resolves on its own. For severe dysplasia, your health care provider may recommend treatment such as surgery or other procedures to remove the abnormal cells.

Learn more about cervical dysplasia from Dr. Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso, a Mayo Clinic OB-GYN.

Related articles