Metaplasiainvolves cellular changes in tissues.
While it is not cancer, it is an abnormal condition.
Metaplasia usually occurs in tissues that are consistently exposed to various environmental changes or factors that damage the tissue.
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Metaplasia is a risk factor for cancer.
For each kind of metaplasia and the various organs it affects, there may be different causes.
Causes of intestinal metaplasia can include:
Acinar-ductal metaplasia is caused byinflammation.
This can be part of regular screening or because of symptoms you are experiencing.
It can includeendoscopy,biopsy, orPap smear, depending on where the metaplasia is suspected.
This may includestopping smoking cigarettes, starting medication forH.
pylorilikeproton pump inhibitorsand antibiotics, or gettingvaccinated for HPV.
Cervical metaplasia and dysplasiacan be monitored and treated after being detected with a Pap smear.
Prevention and risk reduction are a large part of treatment.
This is often a result of environmental stressors that cause abnormal changes in these cells.
It is reversible and treatable.
Giroux V & Rustgi AK.Metaplasia: tissue injury adaptation and a precursor to the dysplasia-cancer sequence.Nat Rev Cancer.
