title: Natural history of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia.
abstract: The natural history of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) was studied in 23 patients followed for at least 3 years with no treatment. The mean age of the patients was 41 years of age. A large proportion of the VAIN lesions (50%) were multifocal, and approximately one half of the lesions were associated with concomitant cervical or vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Progression to invasive vaginal carcinoma occurred in two (9%) cases, persistence of VAIN occurred in three (13%) cases, and regression of VAIN occurred in 18 (78%) cases. The risk for progression to invasive carcinoma emphasizes the significance of colposcopic examination of the vagina with directed biopsy specimens obtained from all lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aho
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vesterinen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Purola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears