Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) is a condition that describes premalignant histological findings in the

vagina In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen ...

characterized by

dysplastic Dysplasia is any of various types of abnormal growth or development of cells (microscopic scale) or organs (macroscopic scale), and the abnormal histology or anatomical structure(s) resulting from such growth. Dysplasias on a mainly microscopic ...

changes. The disorder is rare and generally has no symptoms. VAIN can be detected by the presence of abnormal cells in a Papanicolaou test (Pap smear). Like cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, VAIN comes in three stages, VAIN 1, 2, and 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. VAIN 3 is also known as

carcinoma in-situ Carcinoma ''in situ'' (CIS) is a group of abnormal cells. While they are a form of neoplasm, there is disagreement over whether CIS should be classified as cancer. This controversy also depends on the exact CIS in question (i.e. cervical, skin, bre ...

, or stage 0 vaginal cancer.Cancer Research UK (2002)
The stages of cancer of the vagina
. CancerHelp UK. Retrieved January 3, 2008. Infection with certain types of the human papillomavirus ("high-risk types") may be associated with up to 80% of cases of VAIN.Cancer Research UK (2002)
Risks and causes of vaginal cancer
. CancerHelp UK. Retrieved January 3, 2008. Vaccinating with

HPV vaccine Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are vaccines that prevent infection by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Available HPV vaccines protect against either two, four, or nine types of HPV. All HPV vaccines protect against at least HP ...

before initial sexual contact has been shown to reduce incidence of VAIN.

References

External links

Gynaecological neoplasia Papillomavirus-associated diseases Vagina Women's health {{oncology-stub