Intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) is the development of a benign neoplasia or high-grade dysplasia in an epithelium. The exact dividing line between dysplasia and neoplasia has been very difficult to draw throughout the era of medical science. It varies between persons. In the localizations shown below, the term intraepithelial neoplasia is used to describe more accurately what was historically referred to as epithelial dysplasia. IEN is not cancer, but it is associated with higher risk for developing cancer in future. It is thus sometimes a precancerous condition.
Localizations
Localization Usual acronym anal intraepithelial neoplasia AIN biliary intraepithelial neoplasia BILIN cervical intraepithelial neoplasia CIN endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia EINesophageal intraepithelial neoplasiaEIEN gastrointestinal intraepithelial neoplasia GIN pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia PanIN penile intraepithelial neoplasia PEIN prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia PIN vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia VIN vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia VIN
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