Definition

A term used to describe the presence of abnormal cells on the surface of the cervix. Cervical dysplasia is usually caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and is found when a Pap test or cervical biopsy is done. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how abnormal the cells look under a microscope and how much of the cervical tissue is affected. Cervical dysplasia is not cancer but may become cancer and spread to nearby normal tissue. It is sometimes called squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).