What is low grade dyskaryotic cells with high risk HPV?

Hi

I had a LLETZ in April this year and went for a follow up colposcopy a few weeks ago. There were some patches on my cervix again and biopsies were taken. I just had a letter trough saying what is says in the title. 
"low grade dyskaryotic cells seen" and "The laboratory tested your sample for HPV and reported that to err was evidence of high risk HPV infection "

 

Can Someone break this down for me please? What does it mean? Does it mean I have the cancer causing HPV?

TIA

Sam

  • Hi Kerze

    Hpv is a virus and there are many different strains of it. Having high risk HPV means there is a chance that it could cause cell changes in your cervix. It would seem that it has in your case as you have had a lletz, and now on further checking, there are still some mild changes to those cells-this is what “low grade dyskaryotic cells” means.

    The point of the screening programme is to identify any cell changes, which is exactly what it has done in your case. These cells are NOT cancer. Low grade changes may simply be monitored as they can clear up on their own if you try to keep your immune system strong, but if the biopsies identify any cells which are more than low grade changes it is possible that you might need another lletz to remove them, This  is unlikely. It would be even more unlikely that you would ever get cervical cancer as you are keeping on top of your screenings and checks. Try not to worry about these results, which are extremely common and please don’t even think you will get cancer. 

  • Thank you for clearing up some things. This partially answers my questions. I am supposed to get another LLETZ done according to the letter. 
    I am more worried what high risk hpv infection means? 

     

  • You have a virus (human papilloma virus) which can cause cervical cells to become abnormal. Almost everyone who has ever been sexually active has come into contact with HPV, but for the vast majority it doesn’t ever cause any issues. It has caused some for you, but the abnormal cells can be removed again. 

    High risk HPV infection means that you have one or more of the high risk strains of HPV, but it does not mean you would get cancer. 

     

  • Thank you for explaining it to me.