What Is a Benign Tumor?
The discovery of a lump or growth in the body that is not supposed to be there can be a frightening and stressful occurrence. A tumor does not necessarily indicate cancer, however. A tumor can be malignant, which means it is cancerous, or it can be benign, which means it is not cancerous. These tumors may pose health problems if they interfere with the function of adjacent organs but are often removed easily.
Description
A tumor is an abnormal growth in the body comprised of a mass of cells. When a tumor is classified as benign, it means the growth does not meet the requirements to be classified as malignant. This means the tumor does not grow quickly, spread to other parts of the body or act aggressively toward other organs. Benign tumors grow very slowly and are generally self-contained. Once removed, a benign tumor should not reappear.
Types
Benign tumors can occur anywhere in the body. Just as there are numerous malignant tumors, benign tumors can appear nearly anywhere. This means that there are possibly hundreds of different types of benign tumors. For example, there are numerous types of benign skin, brain and lung tumors. Benign skin tumors include lipoma, neurofibroma, liposarcoma and cherry angioma. Benign tumors may also appear in the breast tissue, colon or kidney. Tumors that appear in the bone or peripheral nerves are almost always benign.
Significance
In some cases, benign tumors can turn malignant over time. Colon polyps are an example of benign tumors that can lead to cancer. When a tumor is removed, the doctor can perform tests on the growth to determine if the tumor is benign. In some cases, this test may indicate that the tumor was in developmental stages to become malignant. This knowledge can help the patient and doctor detect future malignant tumors early in their development when treatment is most successful. This can lead to a high survival rate if cancer develops.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a benign tumor vary widely since there are so many different types of benign tumors. These growths may present themselves as a noticeable lump under the skin's surface. The lump and surrounding area may be painful to touch. Swelling and inflammation at the site may also occur. Symptoms may present themselves in adjacent organs that are affected by the size of the tumor. This is often the case with benign brain tumors that affect the brain's function by pressing against blood vessels or brain tissue.
Treatment
If the benign tumor is small and does not interfere with adjacent organs or bodily functions, the growth does not necessarily need to be removed. Often a physician will recommend the removal of the benign tumor even if it does not pose an immediate danger. Benign tumors can be removed surgically. Slow-growing benign tumors generally do not respond to malignant tumor treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy since these treatments target fast-growing cells.
Tags: adjacent organs, benign tumor, benign tumors, types benign, benign tumors, Benign tumors
