Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

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Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) is a condition that describes premalignant histological findings in the vagina characterized by dysplastic changes. It is generally asymptomatic.

The disorder is rare and may have no symptoms.[1] VAIN can be detected by the presence of abnormal cells in a Papanicolaou test (Pap smear).[1]

Like cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, VAIN comes in three stages, VAIN 1, 2, and 3.[2] In VAIN 1, a third of the thickness of the cells in the vaginal skin are abnormal, while in VAIN 3, the full thickness is affected.[2] VAIN 3 is also known as carcinoma in-situ, or stage 0 vaginal cancer.[2]

Infection with certain, high-risk types of the human papillomavirus may be associated with up to 80% of cases of VAIN.[3]

One study found that most cases of VAIN were located in the upper third of the vagina, and were multifocal.[4] In the same study, 65 and 10% patients with VAIN also had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, respectively.[4]

In another study, most cases of VAIN went into remission after a single treatment, but about 5% of the cases studied progressed into a more serious condition despite treatment.[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Diakomanolis E, Stefanidis K, Rodolakis A, Haidopoulos D, Sindos M, Chatzipappas I, Michalas S. Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia: report of 102 cases. European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology. 23(5):457-459. PMID 12440826.
  2. ^ a b c Cancer Research UK (2002). The stages of cancer of the vagina. CancerHelp UK. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  3. ^ Cancer Research UK (2002). Risks and causes of vaginal cancer. CancerHelp UK. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Dodge JA, Eltabbakh GH, Mount SL, Walker RP, Morgan A (2001). Clinical features and risk of recurrence among patients with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. Gynecologic Oncology. 83(2):363-369. PMID 11606098. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  5. ^ Sillman FH, Fruchter RG, Chen YS, Camilien L, Sedlis A, McTigue E (1997). Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia: risk factors for persistence, recurrence, and invasion and its management. American Journal of Obstettrics and Gynecology. 176(1):93-99. PMID 9024096. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  • Stenchever (2001). Comprehensive Gynecology, 4th ed.


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