Dysplasia Vs Carcinoma in Situ Vs Invasive Carcinoma
These terms are related since they represent the three steps of the progression toward cancer:
- Dysplasia is the earliest form of pre-cancerous lesion recognizable in a biopsy by a pathologist. Dysplasia can be low grade or high grade (see CIS below). The risk of low-grade dysplasia transforming into cancer is low.
- Carcinoma in situ is synonymous with high-grade dysplasia in most organs. The risk of transforming into cancer is high.
- Invasive carcinoma, commonly called cancer, is the final step in this sequence. It is a disease that, if left untreated, will invade and spread to surrounding tissues and structures of the host (hence its name), and may eventually be lethal.
Read more about this topic: Carcinoma In Situ
Famous quotes containing the word invasive:
“The frequency of personal questions grows in direct proportion to your increasing girth. . . . No one would ask a man such a personally invasive question as “Is your wife having natural childbirth or is she planning to be knocked out?” But someone might ask that of you. No matter how much you wish for privacy, your pregnancy is a public event to which everyone feels invited.”
—Jean Marzollo (20th century)