Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

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.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.] VAIN can be detected by the presence of abnormal cells in a Papanicolaou test (Pap smear).

Like cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, VAIN comes in three stages, VAIN 1, 2, and 3. 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. VAIN 3 is also known as carcinoma in-situ, or stage 0 vaginal cancer.Cancer Research UK (2002). [http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=8822#VAIN The stages of cancer of the vagina] . CancerHelp UK. Retrieved January 3, 2008.]

Infection with certain, high-risk types of the human papillomavirus may be associated with up to 80% of cases of VAIN. [Cancer Research UK (2002). [http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=8699 Risks and causes of vaginal cancer] . CancerHelp UK. Retrieved January 3, 2008.]

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

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. [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.]

ee also

*Vulvar cancer
*Carcinoma of the penis

References

*Stenchever (2001). "Comprehensive Gynecology", 4th ed.