Atypical cells: Are they cancer?

Atypical cells are cells that appear abnormal under a microscope, but they aren't necessarily cancerous. The presence of atypical cells is sometimes referred to as "dysplasia." Many factors can make normal cells appear atypical, including inflammation and infection. Even normal aging can make cells appear abnormal.

Atypical cells can change back to normal cells if the underlying cause is removed or resolved. In some cases this happens spontaneously. In other cases, it's the result of a specific treatment.

Although atypical cells don't necessarily mean you have cancer, it's important to remember that some cancers first appear as atypical cells. For example, this can be the case with breast and cervical cancers and with leukemias and lymphomas.

If your doctor identifies atypical cells, close follow-up is essential. In some cases, your doctor may simply monitor the atypical cells to make sure they don't become more abnormal. In other cases, your doctor may recommend a particular treatment to try to reverse the process that's causing the atypical cells. And sometimes, your doctor may need to obtain a larger sample of tissue — such as a biopsy — to make sure you don't have cancer or another serious condition.