Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionTypesCausesDetectionTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Types
Causes
Detection
Treatment
Metaplasiainvolves cellular changes in tissues. While it is not cancer, it is an abnormal condition. It is considered a risk factor for developing cancer because if cells have changed abnormally once, they are likely to change again. Metaplasia usually occurs in tissues that are consistently exposed to various environmental changes or factors that damage the tissue.
Knowing more about metaplasia can help you talk with a healthcare provider about what to watch for, how to take steps to help prevent metaplasia, and how to possibly reduce your risk of developing cancer in the future.
Prasert Krainukul / Getty Images
When cells are constantly irritated, one response of the cell might be to change, which is when they transform and result in metaplasia.
Metaplasia is a risk factor for cancer. Another transformation after metaplasia is dysplasia, which is considered to be a precancerous condition.However, metaplasia is not cancer.
While metaplasia can occur in many different organs, there are three general categories of metaplasia: squamous metaplasia,intestinal metaplasia, and acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM).Different kinds of metaplasia can occur in different areas of the body and organs.
Squamous metaplasia can occur in the:
Intestinal metaplasia can occur in the:
Acinar-ductal metaplasia can occur in the:
Metaplasia often occurs due to exposure to environmental factors that injure or stress the tissue, causing the cells to change. For each kind of metaplasia and the various organs it affects, there may be different causes. This is because the tissues are exposed to different environmental irritants and infections, which produce various effects in the cells.
For squamous metaplasia, causes and the affected organs can include:
Other causes can include a diet high in animal fat, obesity, higher levels of estrogen exposure (like with early menstruation or late menopause), and a family history of endometrial, ovarian, and/or colon cancers.
Causes of intestinal metaplasia can include:
Screening for and detecting metaplasia is done when a healthcare provider can gain access to the tissue they need to examine. 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.
Metaplasia is reversible and can be treated.The main factor in helping to reverse it is getting rid of the stimulus that triggered the changes. 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. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best ways to help reduce your risk of metaplasia and future dysplastic changes, as well as any preventive screenings that can monitor cellular changes.
Summary
While it is a risk factor for cancer because of additional cell changes that can become cancer, metaplasia itself is not cancer. It is reversible and treatable. Talk with a healthcare provider about how to best address your metaplasia so that it can be reversed and future changes can be prevented.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Giroux V & Rustgi AK.Metaplasia: tissue injury adaptation and a precursor to the dysplasia-cancer sequence.Nat Rev Cancer. 2017;17(10):594-604. doi:10.1038/nrc.2017.68Osmosis From Elsevier.Metaplasia: what is it, types, causes, and more.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Giroux V & Rustgi AK.Metaplasia: tissue injury adaptation and a precursor to the dysplasia-cancer sequence.Nat Rev Cancer. 2017;17(10):594-604. doi:10.1038/nrc.2017.68Osmosis From Elsevier.Metaplasia: what is it, types, causes, and more.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Giroux V & Rustgi AK.Metaplasia: tissue injury adaptation and a precursor to the dysplasia-cancer sequence.Nat Rev Cancer. 2017;17(10):594-604. doi:10.1038/nrc.2017.68Osmosis From Elsevier.Metaplasia: what is it, types, causes, and more.
Giroux V & Rustgi AK.Metaplasia: tissue injury adaptation and a precursor to the dysplasia-cancer sequence.Nat Rev Cancer. 2017;17(10):594-604. doi:10.1038/nrc.2017.68
Osmosis From Elsevier.Metaplasia: what is it, types, causes, and more.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
