Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also known as cervical dysplasia, is the abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix that could potentially lead to cervical cancer.
CIN most commonly occurs at the squamocolumnar junction of the cervix, a transitional area between the squamous epithelium of the vagina and the columnar epithelium of the endocervix.
CIN is a pre-cancerous condition and does not pose an immediate threat to a person’s health. But if they’re not checked and treated, they can potentially develop into cancer. CIN is graded on a 1-3 scale, with 3 being the most abnormal. Generally no treatment is recommended for CIN grade 1 and treatment is always recommended for CIN grade 3. Guidelines differ on whether treatment should be offered for CIN2 grade 2.