Cervical Neoplasia and Traditional Chinese Medicine

See also: Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia for more information on genital warts

How can Chinese Medicine Help Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) ?

Some CIN patients do not have symptoms, while others manifest with excessive vaginal discharge, cervical bleeding after intercourse, irregular menstruation, abdominal pain or low back pain. On the late stage of cervical cancer, patients may have symptoms of strong smelling of vaginal discharge.

Diagnosis is made easy with a Pap test, HPV test or colposcopy report. Differentiated syndrome can be made from patient’s symptoms, tongue and pulse. Except accumulated damp in lower jiao, which is present in almost in all cases, the main syndromes include Spleen deficiency, Liver Qi stagnation, Kidney Yin deficiency, Kidney Yang deficiency, and accumulated dampness-heat. In the beginning stages, Zheng Qi (right Qi, good Qi) is not too weak and Xie Qi (evil Qi, pathogen, infection) is not too violent and it belong to excess syndromes.  As the disease progresses, Zheng Qi is exhausted and Xie Qi is more violent and there are more complicated cases of deficiency with excess.

Treatment principles are to treat primary and secondary together.  Focus on strengthening Zheng Qi, and dispelling pathogenic factors, and improving immunity to clear HPV.  External and internal remedies together including, sitz bath, vaginal douche and cervical herb application are provided to clear HPV and repair damage tissue with oral herb medicine to balance the Zangfu organs function.  Treatment methods including clear heat and eliminate dampness, regulate Liver Qi and strengthen Spleen, nourish Kidney Yin and warm Kidney Yang.

 

Introduction

It was recognized that if cervical lesions cytologically identified as dysplasia (abnormal change of epithelial cell) are not treated they can progress to cervical cancer.   So the concept of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was introduced to describe cervical precancerous and cancerous conditions.

 

The criteria for the diagnosis of intraepithelial neoplasia may vary according to the pathologist, but the significant features are cellular immaturity, cellar disorganization, nuclear abnormalities, and increased mitotic activity. If the mitoses and immature cells are present only in the lower one third of the epithelium, the lesion is designated as CIN1, Involvement of the middle and upper thirds is diagnosed as CIN2 and CIN3.

 

Pathophysiology

Human Papillomavirus: HPV are a group of small DNA viruses, of which there are 100+ types that can infect the epithelial cells of humans. More than 20 types of HPV which are transmitted through sexual contact are called genital HPV types.  The percentage of intraepithelial neoplasia apparently attributed to HPV infection approaches 90%.

 

The genital HPV types can be divided into two broad groups (low-risk and high-risk HPVs) depending upon their association (or lack of association) with cancers of the lower genital tract. Low-risk HPV types are HPV-6, 11, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 72, and 81. High-risk HPV types are HPV-16, 18, 31, 33, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, and 58. HPV-16 and HPV-18 are most common HPV in invasive cancer and in CIN2 and CIN3.

 

Usually, HPV infections do not persist. Most women have no apparent clinical evidence of disease, and the infection is eventually suppressed or eliminated. Other women exhibit low-grade cervical lesions that may progress spontaneously. A minority of women exposed to HPV develop persistent infection that may progress to CIN. Factors that may have a role in this progression include smoking, contraceptive use, infection with other sexually transmitted diseases or nutrition. Any factor that influences the integration of HPV DNA into the human genome may cause progression to invasive disease.

 

Diagnosis

With the papanicolaou test and HPV test, colposcopy, or biopsy, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and severity can be established.

The Papanicolaou Test – or PAP test is a cervical cytological test.  Previously, the Pap test was done by scraping the cervical opening area to pick up the cells to transfer them to the glass slide. False-negative errors occur in sampling, preparation and interpretation.  Presently, the liquid-based media to collect the cytological sample is performed. The cell sample is collected with an endocervical brush, then rinsed in a vial containing liquid preservative. Liquid-based cytology assessment improves the sensitivity of the Pap test and reduces its false-negative rate.

 

The Pap test cytological report shows benign squamous cell changes including infection, reactive and reparative changes. But it is most important in diagnosing and tracing premalignant and malignant changes. To make a standard classification for premalignant and malignant changes of cervical squamous cell, in 1988 the first National Cancer Institute (NCI) workshop was held in Bethesda, Maryland resulting in the development of the Bethesda System for cytological reporting.  Premalignant lesions fall into three categories: atypical squamous cells (ASC), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and those in which high-grade lesions must be excluded atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and atypical squamous cells cannot exclude high-grade lesions (ASC-H). Low-grade lesions include CIN1 (mild dysplasia) and the changes of HPV, termed koilocytotic atypia. The HSIL category includes CIN2 and CIN3 (moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ).

 

HPV Test: Here inCanada, the HPV test is rarely administered due to its costliness.

HPVs are viruses and stay in host cells, which are unable to separate them from human body with culture.  HPV tests are methods for detection of HPV genomes and anti-HPV antibodies to diagnosis HPV infection and identifying HPV types.

The host cell sample is often collected at the same time of Pap test. HR/LR HPVPCR-ELA (simply called hrHPV tests) are the most common methods used presently. HPV test is highly sensitive in identifying CIN2 and 3 lesions.

The Pap test and HPV test are often applied together to diagnose CIN and its prognosis. If the Pap test is CIN1, and HPV test is HPV of low-risk type, the cases will regress spontaneously in most cases. If Pap test is ASC-US, and HPV test is HPV of high-risk type, the prognosis is not optimistic. Repetition of the Pap test and HPV test needs to be performed every 4 to 6 months or there needs to be a referral for colposcopy.

 

Colposcopy Findings: Colposcopy helps to see cervical tissue microscopically change with HPV infection. During a Colposcopy check, acetic acid tests are often applied.

The following can be colposcopy findings:

  • Acetowhite Epithelium: Epithelium that turns white after application of acetic acid is called acetowhite epithelium. The application of acetic acid coagulates the proteins of the nucleus and cytoplasm and makes the proteins opaque and white.
  • Leukoplakia: Leukoplakia is caused by a layer of keratin on the surface of the epithelium. Several things can cause leukoplakia including HPV, keratinizing carcinoma, chronic trauma from diaphragm, pessary or tampon use and radiotherapy.
  • Punctation: Punctation refers to dilated capillaries terminating on the surface.
  • Mosaic: Terminal capillaries surrounding roughly circular or polygonal-shaped blocks of acetowhite epithelium crowded together are called mosaic.
  • Atypical vascular pattern: atypical vascular pattern are characteristic of invasive cervical cancer.

 

Endocervical Curettage & Cervical Biopsy: this is done through pathological testing.    

 

Treatment in Western Medicine

Ablative (removal of tissue) therapy is appropriate when there is no evidence of micro-invasive or invasive cancer on cytology, colposcopy, endocervical curettage and cervical biopsy, when the lesion is located on the ectocervix and can be seen entirely, or when there is no involvement of the endocervix.  Ablative therapy includes cryotherapy, laser, and LEEP electrosurgical excision. Because all therapy carries a recurrence rate of up to 10%, Pap test follow-up ate about 3-month intervals for 1 year is necessary.

Cryosurgery

Conization

LEEP

Biopsy

Other treatments include conization, hysterectomy (there are some situations in which hysterectomy remains a valid and appropriate method of treatment for CIN), or microinvasion. CIN3 is the limit of conisation specimen and generally has poor compliance with follow-up.  Other gynecological problems requiring hysterectomy include adjunctive fibroids, prolapse, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.

 

Etiology & Pathology in Chinese Medicine

CIN and cervical cancer are classified as leukorrhea or Zheng Jia in Chinese Medicine.  In ancient literature there was some description about cervical cancer.  Huang Di Nei Jing said “Ren meridian diseases manifest as leukorrhea and abdominal mass… warts (neoplasias) are due to deficiency of Zheng Qi.

HPV is associated with premalignant cervical diseases and cervical cancer, but HPV infections are very common and 79% of all women will catch at least one infection in their lifetime.  60%-70% of female cases are temporary and will resolve spontaneously within 2 years through the hosts immune response to the virus.  HPV is an external cause for CINa nd cervical cancer.  There are internal causes for the woman who gets a latent HPV infection that finally develops into a premalignant cervical disease or cervical disease. Internal factors include improper sexual activity, multiple pregnancies and abortions, deep cervical injury from abortion or trauma, irregular menstruation, emotional factors, which result in deficiency of Zheng Qi.

HPV as an external cause has a dampness characteristic.  Some latent HPV infection patients manifesting with excessive vaginal discharge and low abdominal bloating are related with Spleen deficiency. Liver stagnation and Spleen deficiency with dampness-heat is a very common syndrome in the mild CIN cases. With long-standing HPV infections, the Kidney Yin and Yang are injured by long term dampness-heat toxin invading on the uterus gate. Kidney Yin deficiency or Kidney Yang deficiency as internal causes result in CIN progression.

 

Treatment in Chinese Medicine

Syndrome Discharge Other Symptoms Formula
SP Qi Deficiency with Dampness Excessive, dilute, no smell Pale or sallow complexion, intermittent abdominal bloating, diarrhea, delicate or swollen tongue, weak pulse. Modified Wan Dai Tang
Liver Qi Stagnation with Damp Heat Dark bluish, vulvar itch Continuous abdominal distention or pain, depression, irritability, red tongue, stringy pulse. Modified Jia Jian XiaoYaoSan
Damp Heat with KI Yin Deficiency Thick, yellowish, repeated urinary tract infections Low back ache, insomnia, dry mouth, reddish tongue, thready pulse Modified Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
Damp Toxin with KI Yang Deficiency Excess discharge Low back pain or low abdominal pain, lusterless complexion, cold extremities, weight loss, pale tongue, weak pulse Modified Jin Gui Zhen Qi Wan
Heat Toxin withLV, HT & KI Yin Deficiency Excess discharge with a variety of colours or pus-like discharge, foul smell Low abdominal pain, irritability, dizziness, delirium, red tongue, weak or strong-hard pulse Modified Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin

 

Other Treatments

External Treatment includes herbal powders for cervical application.  Clients and practitioners alike, contact us for details.   The powders include: Clear Cervix Complex, Clear Wart Complex, Herbal Creams and Herbal Formulas for Sitz Baths.  All of these can help the body to clear CIN infections externally, eliminating the need for invasive western therapies.

CGICM’s Anti-HPV Powder

CIN infections are a manifestation of an internal deficiency and an external pathogen attacking and Chinese Medicine targets both to provide a holistic treatment.  Please contact us with any questions, and for alternative healthcare practitioners check out our upcoming courses for more information and which herbal modifications are best.

 

Caroline Prodoehl, D.TCMP

 

References:

Wang, Yuxiang (2012).  Integrated Gynecology Course Notes.  Canadian Gynecology Institute of Chinese Medicine.  Toronto, Ontario.