Which statement best describes cervical dysplasia?

• A. Cancer of the cervix
• B. Benign cervical polyp
• C. Pre-cancerous cervical changes due to HPV infection
• D. Metastasis to distant sites

Answer: (C)

Cervical dysplasia describes abnormal growth and maturation of cervical epithelial cells that are precancerous, most often driven by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus. It is not cancer yet, but it signals an increased risk of progressing to invasive cervical cancer if not monitored or treated. The changes are graded from mild to severe, corresponding to increasing risk, and many low-grade lesions can regress, especially in younger people, while higher-grade lesions may require intervention to prevent cancer. Screening tools like the Pap test detect abnormal cells, and a follow-up colposcopy with biopsy confirms and grades the dysplasia to guide management. This distinguishes cervical dysplasia from cancer, which is invasive malignant disease, from a benign polyp, which is a noncancerous growth, and from metastasis, which involves spread to distant sites.