Gynecological diseases in women of childbearing age are very common today. Among such pathologies is leukoplakia of the cervix, which is an abnormal change in the mucosa of its part, resulting in keratinization of the epithelium. Among all diseases of the uterus, this pathology occurs in 5% of cases. At the same time, in thirty percent of women, this disease provokes the development of an oncological tumor. Therefore, leukoplakia should be timely detected and treated in order to reduce the risk of developing uterine cancer.
Characterization and description of the disease
Cervical leukoplakia is a disease in which there are areas of keratinization and thickening of the mucous membrane of the cervix with varying severity. Pathology is presented in the form of white plaques that rise above the cover of one of the sections of the cervix, sometimes these plaques can be observed in the cervical canal. The white color of the formation becomes as a result of a disorder of processes that control the keratinization of the uterine epithelium.
The disease usually proceeds without symptoms and is diagnosed by chance during a gynecological examination. Many women are wondering if cervical leukoplakia is cancer or not? In 70% of cases, the pathology is benign in nature, but it is recommended to remove it, since under the influence of certain negative factors, it can transform into cancer.
Types of disease
In gynecology, cervical leukoplakia is divided into several types:
- Simple leukoplakia is characterized by a change in the layer of the epithelium (parakeratosis or hyperkeratosis), in which there is a pronounced compaction and keratinization. This disease is considered to be the initial stage of the pathological process, in which white formations do not extend beyond the surface of the mucous membrane.
- The warty form of pathology is the second stage of the disease, in which the growths merge with each other, forming a tuberous surface, while it rises above the surface of the epithelium.
- Erosive leukoplakia is characterized by the formation of cracks and erosion on the growths.
- Proliferative leukoplakia is caused by the proliferation of tissues and the appearance of atypical cells. Such a disease is referred to as precancerous condition. In medicine, pathology is often called cervical dysplasia.
Causes of the disease
Why exactly cervical leukoplakia develops, doctors have not fully studied. Some tend to claim that the disease develops due to specific effects on the cervical structures. In medicine, internal and external factors that provoke the appearance of pathology are distinguished. This may be a violation of the ovaries, the effects of HPV on the body, mechanical damage to the uterus or erosion of its neck.
Internal factors include:
- Disruption of the hormonal system, in which the level of estrogen increases and the amount of progesterone decreases. Such phenomena are usually observed with impaired ovarian function, the appearance of tumors, uterine fibroids and endometrial hyperplasia.
- Violation of deception of substances in the body, for example, with diabetes mellitus or thyroid gland pathologies.
- Inflammation of the genitourinary system.
- Immune system disorder, prolonged use of cytostatics.
- HIV infection.
- Lack of vitamins in the body.
External factors that contribute to the development of pathology, it is customary to include:
- Damage to the cervix during labor, abortion and medical manipulation.
- STDs.
- Early sex life.
- Promiscuous sexual intercourse.
In fact, cervical leukoplakia disease can be triggered by many causes, that is, a combination of several factors.
Symptoms of the disease
In most cases, the disease proceeds without signs. Usually leukoplakia exhibits symptoms that are similar to other diseases, so a woman can not always suspect the development of this disease in herself.
With the development of an infectious or inflammatory process that provokes the formation of leukoplakia, a woman develops white discharge with an unpleasant odor, itching and burning in the vagina, blood discharge after sexual intercourse, and small bleeding may develop. With a disorder of the hormonal system, the menstrual cycle will be disrupted.
With simple leukoplakia, the epithelium will not be deformed, with the papillary form of the disease, it will look like an orange peel.
Complications and consequences
Usually, overgrown tissues are benign, but in 30% of cases they can cause the development of a cancerous tumor. According to reviews, cervical leukoplakia in some cases can have serious consequences for a woman’s health, including the development of her infertility.
In pregnant women, the disease usually does not affect the fetus and does not cause malformations. But for a woman herself, the disease can have serious consequences, she often provokes the development of serious diseases and malignancy of the affected area. Such complications provoke disorders of the hormonal system, a decrease in immunity and childbirth, in which tissues are damaged when stretched.
When diagnosing a pathology before pregnancy, it is recommended to remove it. Not every woman knows what cervical leukoplakia is. Is it cancer or not? Although this disease is considered to be a benign pathology, it can provoke the appearance of serious complications in the form of an oncological process. In severe cases, the doctor performs an amputation of the cervix.
Diagnosis of the disease
Usually, the disease is detected by chance during a gynecological examination. During the examination, the doctor reveals with the help of mirrors white areas in the form of oval-shaped growths that have clear outlines and inconsistent sizes. Such growths usually rise above the surface of the cervical epithelium. The surface of the plaques covers the keratinized layer of the mucous membrane.
With a gynecological examination, cervical leukoplakia can be detected by treating the affected area with iodine, since in some cases the pathology is not determined by visual examination.
Then the doctor takes a scraping from the cervix, which sends for a cytological examination. In this case, an accumulation of cells with signs of parakeratosis or hyperkeratosis is detected. The main diagnostic method for this disease is a knife biopsy with further histological examination of the biopsy. This method makes it possible to detect cancer cells, if any. Also, to exclude oncology, curettage of the cervical canal is performed.
The doctor also conducts colposcopy in order to identify the size and nature of the pathology. In this case, both single growths and multiple ones, passing to the vaginal fornix, can be detected.
The following diagnostics are required:
- laboratory tests of smears;
- PCR for the detection of HPV and other STDs;
- hormonal and immunological tests.
A gynecologist differentiates leukoplakia with diseases such as cervical erosion, cervical cancer.
Disease therapy
The doctor will tell you how to treat cervical leukoplakia after making an accurate diagnosis. Therapy is aimed at eliminating diseases that could cause the development of pathology, as well as the complete removal of growths. During treatment, the doctor prescribes taking antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs.
To reduce the risk of negative consequences, it is recommended to remove cervical leukoplakia, especially for women who are planning a pregnancy. As a medical treatment, the doctor prescribes the following groups of drugs:
- antibacterial agents;
- NSAIDs
- vitamin and mineral complexes;
- immunomodulators.
Usually, cervical leukoplakia requires treatment depending on the form of the disease. But alternative methods of treatment are prohibited. Often the use of tampons and douching provoke the spread of the disease to healthy areas, and also cause the development of cancer. In medicine, it has been proven that the use of tampons with rose hips or aloe, as well as sea buckthorn oil, provokes the development of proliferative and dysplastic processes.
Surgery
Surgical treatment of cervical leukoplakia is usually performed to reduce the risk of developing a cancerous tumor. Self-medication in this case is strictly contraindicated, since this can provoke the opposite effect, then the cells will divide uncontrollably. The pathological focus can be removed in several ways:
- Cauterization of cervical leukoplakia. This method is gentle, does not imply the development of negative consequences for a woman’s health.
- Surgical excision of the formation with a scalpel. When the disease is neglected, treatment is carried out in two stages. First, the doctor removes the pathological lesion on the cervical canal, and then eliminates the affected areas from the vaginal fornix and other areas. The disadvantage of this method is the formation of scars, which can cause rupture and the development of bleeding during labor.
- Cervical leukoplakia involves laser treatment in the case when a woman plans to conceive in the future. This is a less invasive therapy method. Such treatment does not leave scars on the surface of the epithelial cover.
After the operation, antiseptic treatment of vaginal tissues is performed. If an infectious process is observed, the doctor prescribes antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Necessarily cervical leukoplakia after removal requires abstinence from sexual intercourse for two months. Every six months, a woman should undergo examinations with a gynecologist for the purpose of prevention. This will eliminate the risk of relapse.
In the presence of leukoplakia together with hypertrophy, neoplasia, kraurosis and deformation of the cervix as a result of scarring, the operation is performed with its complete removal.
Reviews
Many patients respond well to the treatment of pathology and its results. Most women used laser removal of tumors, after which there were no complications and negative consequences. This procedure was quick and painless.
Other patients underwent cauterization. They also did not note the appearance of complications. Therefore, it is this method of surgical removal of growths that is recommended.
Forecast
Cervical leukoplakia, reviews of the treatment of which are discussed above, has favorable prognoses in the case when the disease is not complicated by atypia, HPV, and other negative factors. If the root cause of the pathology has not been eliminated, then the risk of developing cervical cancer increases several times. With timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease, it will in no way endanger the health and life of the patient.
Prevention
For the purpose of prevention, doctors recommend timely treatment of STDs, menstrual disorders, inflammatory diseases, as well as periodic examination by a gynecologist. Also, a woman should lead a healthy lifestyle and monitor her diet, eliminate abortion and trauma to the uterus during medical procedures, and use barrier contraception during sexual intercourse. Doctors say that HPV vaccination will help reduce the risk of developing leukoplakia.
With simple leukoplakia, the use of laser therapy is recommended for those women who are planning a pregnancy in the future. After removing the pathology and when pregnancy occurs, the doctor must constantly monitor the patient's condition. After the treatment of the disease, patients should undergo colposcopy every six months, smear analysis for the presence of cancer cells, and an HPV test. After two years after treatment, in the absence of relapse, the doctor transfers the woman to the usual mode of observation.
Cervical leukoplakia is a serious pathology, which often causes the development of a cancerous tumor. Therefore, every woman should be regularly examined by a gynecologist, especially since this disease is asymptomatic and it is impossible to identify it on her own. This pathology in medicine today refers to precancerous conditions and requires a careful approach to diagnosis and therapy. An important point is the educational work among women. The main goal of the treatment of the disease is to eliminate the cause of the development of the disease, otherwise the treatment of leukoplakia will be meaningless.