What does the term 'dysplasia' mean in tissue histology?

• A. Malignant invasion into adjacent tissue.
• B. Disordered growth with variation in size, shape, and organization of cells, not necessarily invasive.
• C. Normal tissue development.
• D. Inflammatory response.

Answer: (B)

Dysplasia describes disordered cellular growth where cells vary in size, shape, and organization, with changes such as nuclear atypia and loss of normal tissue architecture, but without invasion through the basement membrane. This distinguishes it from true cancer invasion, which breaches that barrier. It’s not normal development or a simple inflammatory reaction. Dysplasia is often a precancerous change, commonly seen in epithelia like the cervix or esophagus, and can range from low-grade to high-grade, reflecting how abnormal the cells are and how likely progression to invasive cancer might be if the underlying cause persists.