Abstract:
Premalignant (precancerous) lesions are morphologically abnormal tissue which appears atypical under microscopic
examination. These lesions are not overtly malignant, but have an increased risk of transforming into a cancer than
its apparently normal counterpart. Precancerous lesions can be found almost anywhere in the body and that early
detection is one of the most important aspects of curing
cancer. Most precancerous lesi
ons are detected in people
over 40 years of age. It is difficult to predict which pr
ecancerouslesions will transform and how long it will take.
Some of the well recognized
precancerous lesions include cer
vical intraepithelial neoplasia, adenomatous polyps of
the colon, oral leukoplakia, insitu carcinoma of breast, Barr
ett’s disease, chronic atrophic gastritis, ulcerative colitis,
actinic keratosis.
The risk factors of precancerous lesions are same as for
its cancerous counterpart. Precan
cerous cells have a rapid,
uncordinated growth and precede the development of i
nvasive cancer. Precancerous lesions may be asymptomatic
or associated with physical change
s. Asymptomatic lesions such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, insitu
carcinoma of breast and adenomatous poly
ps of the colon are detected by medi
cal screening tests such as the pap
test, mammogram and colonoscopic proc
edures respectively.Symptomatic lesi
ons are biopsied when there is a
concern about cancer.
Treatment can range from simply watching the patient closely, having minor surgery, starting a medication that
helps prevent growth, or possibly a major surgery. In some
cases, it may even be a sign that family members need to
be checked or followed as well.
When a patient has precancerous cells, they are an indicato
r that the patient should be monitored carefully in the
future. Consistent screening and monitoring will help a
doctor identify cancer early, if it shows up, allowing for
prompt provision of treatment. Precancero
us lesions can also indicate the need
for prophylactic treatment to prevent
the appearance of cancer.
