Dysplasia, in which cells in an area of tissue exhibit abnormalities, can have a number of causes. One of the most serious dysplasia causes is cancer, with dysplasia often being viewed as a sign that the tissue is precancerous, but there other other reasons for abnormalities in cell growth to occur. Sometimes, analysis of a biopsy specimen can provide information about abnormalities identified in the specimen, and this information can be used in treatment.
When dysplasia occurs, cells may grow to abnormal sizes, and it is not uncommon to see numerous young cells and less fully matured cells. These tissue changes can be benign or malignant, depending on the cause and the area in which the dysplasia is occurring. People should be aware that a result of “dysplasia” on a biopsy is not necessarily a cause for immediate concern, and one should not jump to the conclusion that the cells are cancerous.
Some dysplasia causes include congenital conditions which result in abnormalities in cell growth. Some people inherit conditions which lead to problems with the regulation of cell growth, while others may experience spontaneous mutations in utero which lead to dysplasia. This can sometimes be diagnosed with the assistance of genetic testing, and if a patient has a family history of dysplasia, it can be a strong indicator that there is a genetic component.
Other dysplasia causes include exposure to environmental stresses such as cigarette smoke, radioactive material, strong UV radiation, or even viral and bacterial infections. All of these stresses can cause DNA mutations which lead to dysplasia as cells lose their capacity for self regulation or as the information in cells becomes scrambled somehow. For example, cervical dysplasia, which can be an indicator that someone is at risk for cervical cancer, often occurs in response to infection with the human papilloma virus.
Another of the dysplasia causes is immune deregulation. Sometimes problems with the immune system manifest in strange ways, including dysplasia in an area of the body. As can be seen from this broad spectrum of dysplasia causes, simply identifying dysplasia is only the start of the journey. A doctor must find out why it is happening with the assistance of additional tests and patient interviews to learn about the patient and her or his family history. This information can be used to determine what is causing the dysplasia, and what the best course of action might be.
