Pronunciation:
SKWAY mus hy per PLAY zhea • (noun)
Also Known As:
squamous cell hyperplasia, hyperplastic dystrophy, leukoplakia, vulvar hyperplasia
Common Misspellings:
squmaus, lukoplakia
Definition:
A thickening of the tissue of the vulva, usually related to chronic irritation
of some sort - chemical, physical, allergic, or as a response to another vulvar
condition such as lichen sclerosus. It generally shows up as whitened area on
the vulva, and is treated by trying to locate the control the source of the irritation,
as well as steroid creams. The thickening is sometimes called "acanthosis".
There is some evidence that women who show a combination of squamous hyperplasia
and lichen sclerosis may show a slight increased risk of vulvar cancer, and the
condition should be monitored.
Related Terms
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