Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) is a condition that describes premalignant histological findings in the vagina characterized by dysplastic changes.^[1] It is generally asymptomatic.

The disorder is rare and may have no symptoms.^[2] VAIN can be detected by the presence of abnormal cells in a Papanicolaou test (Pap smear).^[2]

Like cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, VAIN comes in three stages, VAIN 1, 2, and 3.^[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.^[3] VAIN 3 is also known as carcinoma in-situ, or stage 0 vaginal cancer.^[3]

Infection with certain, high-risk types of the human papillomavirus may be associated with up to 80% of cases of VAIN.^[4]

One study found that most cases of VAIN were located in the upper third of the vagina, and were multifocal.^[5] In the same study, 65 and 10% patients with VAIN also had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, respectively.^[5]

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.^[6]

[edit] See also

• Vulvar cancer
• Carcinoma of the penis

[edit] References

1. ^ Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. pp. 1192. ISBN 1-4160-2999-0. 
2. ^ ^{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.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Cancer Research UK (2002). The stages of cancer of the vagina. CancerHelp UK. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
4. ^ Cancer Research UK (2002). Risks and causes of vaginal cancer. CancerHelp UK. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
5. ^ ^{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.
6. ^ 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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