If you have high-grade cervical dysplasia, does that mean that you have cancer cells?

No: A high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (hsil) on pap smear typically equates to moderate to severe squamous dysplasia on cervical biopsy, a precursor to invasive cancer with high-grade lesions being more likely to progress (as opposed to low-grade lesions). Areas of high-grade dysplasia are typically surgically excised so that the chance of progression to invasive cancer is minimized.

High Grade Dysplasia: High grade dysplastic cells are pre-cancerous cervical cells that are limited to the cervical mucosal lining and have not invaded the tissue underneath. If untreated, you are at risk, months or years from now, for invasive cervical cancer. That is why your gynecologist will follow up with you and recommend one of several treatments to eradicate all of them and prevent such an event from occurring.