The collection procedure continues with the taking of an accurate sexual and health history. Previous abnormal Pap smears Relevant clinical information-.e.g., abnormal bleeding, discharge, pelvic pain, etc. If yearly screening is performed, then the chance of a lesion being missed is very low. Symptomatology can include a vaginal discharge. These include dysplasias through carcinoma in situ.
Dysplasias are pre-neoplastic and potentially reversible.
However, if not treated, there is a natural history of progression to carcinoma. The presence of CIN is strongly associated with a history of human papillomavirus infection. The earliest lesion is a microinvasive squamous carcinoma, defined as invasion less than 3 mm beyond the basement membrane and without lymphatic invasion. Beyond this, invasive squamous cell carcinoma can invade to varying degrees. Staging is based upon the degree and location of invasion.