Are Metaplastic Cells Normal?

Studies have shown that metaplasia is present in more than one-half of all women at some point in their development. This is a normal finding and does not indicate cancer. Dysplasia - In dysplasia, there is an increase in the number of cells formed, which do not mature as expected.

Can metaplasia be normal?

Metaplasia can also occur as a normal physiologic response. An example of physiologic metaplasia is the squamous metaplasia that occurs in the uterine cervix during the menstrual cycle as the squamocolumnar junction migrates across the transformation zone (Fig. 1-13).

Does metaplasia lead to cancer?

Complications from intestinal metaplasia

Intestinal metaplasia is believed to be a precancerous lesion that may lead to gastric cancer. If you have intestinal metaplasia, then your risk of getting gastric cancer is increased six times .