Cervical Dysplasia
Cervical dysplasia incidence rates have decreased as a result of the pap smear. The Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is a collection of cells from the smooth squamous epithelium and columnar epithelium that are close to the squamocolumnar junction of the cervix. Squamous cells are replacing columnar cells in this region due to squamous metaplasia. Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the cause of more than 90% of cervical cancer, can enter cells as a result of cell growth and alteration. Cells from this region are taken for a Pap smear, which screens a patient for anomalies such as cervical dysplasia.