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We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is a Tumor? Malignant Tumors. Can Benign Turn Malignant? What Your Diagnosis Means. Characteristics of Benign Tumors Cells tend not to spread Most grow slowly Do not invade nearby tissue Do not metastasize spread to other parts of the body Tend to have clear boundaries Under a pathologist's microscope, shape, chromosomes, and DNA of cells appear normal Do not secrete hormones or other substances an exception: pheochromocytomas of the adrenal gland May not require treatment if not health-threatening Unlikely to recur if removed or require further treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy.
Characteristics of Malignant Tumors Cells can spread Usually grow fairly rapidly Often invade basal membrane that surrounds nearby healthy tissue Can spread via bloodstream or lymphatic system, or by sending "fingers" into nearby tissue May recur after removal, sometimes in areas other the original site Cells have abnormal chromosomes and DNA characterized by large, dark nuclei; may have abnormal shape Can secrete substances that cause fatigue and weight loss paraneoplastic syndrome May require aggressive treatment, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy medications.
Frequently Asked Questions How long can someone survive with a benign brain tumor? How does treatment differ for benign vs. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.
Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. An, Y. PLoS One. Related Articles. What is Chest Wall Cancer? What Are the Stages of Esophageal Cancer? It is not always clear how a tumor will act in the future.
Some benign tumors can become premalignant and then malignant. For this reason, it is best to monitor any growth. However, they can cause pain or other problems if they press against nerves or blood vessels or if they trigger the overproduction of hormones, as in the endocrine system. Adenomas develop in glandular epithelial tissue, which is the thin membrane that covers glands, organs, and other structures in the body. Adenomas do not start as cancer. However, some can change and become adenocarcinomas, which are cancerous.
Learn more about fibroadenomas of the breast here. Fibroids , or fibromas, are benign tumors that can grow on the fibrous or connective tissue of any organ. Some fibromas can cause symptoms and may need surgery. In rare cases, fibroids can change and become fibrosarcomas. These are cancerous. Learn more about dermatofibromas. They are often present at birth and disappear during childhood. Hemangiomas do not usually need treatment, but laser surgery and other options are available if they do not go away.
Find out more here about internal hemangiomas. Lipomas are a form of soft tissue tumor and consist of fat cells. Most lipomas are small, painless, rubbery, soft to the touch, and movable. They often appear on the back, shoulders, arms, buttocks, and the tops of the legs.
Types of lipoma include fibrolipomas, which contain fat cells and fibrous connective tissue, and angiolipomas, which appear under the skin.
Find out more about angiolipomas here. Sometimes, actinic keratosis will transform into squamous cell carcinoma , so doctors usually recommend treating it. In cervical dysplasia, a change occurs in the cells that line the cervix.
A doctor may find these cells during a Pap smear. There are two types of solid tumors: malignant cancerous and benign noncancerous. Examples of solid malignant tumors include carcinomas and sarcomas.
Carcinomas are cancers that start in the cells that make up the tissue lining organs such as the liver or kidneys. Sarcomas are cancers that form in the connective tissues of the body, such as the muscles, bones, and nerves. Benign tumors do not spread or travel throughout the body.
Most are not life-threatening, aside from certain brain tumors that can still cause inflammation and put pressure on delicate tissue surrounding the tumor. A doctor can perform a biopsy to determine whether a tumor is cancerous or benign. These cells usually form from B cells. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma — This is a large group of cancers that start in lymphocytes.
The cancers can grow quickly or slowly and can form from B cells or T cells. Our page on lymphoma has more information. Multiple myeloma is cancer that begins in plasma cells , another type of immune cell. The abnormal plasma cells, called myeloma cells, build up in the bone marrow and form tumors in bones all through the body. Multiple myeloma is also called plasma cell myeloma and Kahler disease. Our page on multiple myeloma and other plasma cell neoplasms has more information.
Melanoma is cancer that begins in cells that become melanocytes, which are specialized cells that make melanin the pigment that gives skin its color. Most melanomas form on the skin, but melanomas can also form in other pigmented tissues, such as the eye. Our pages on skin cancer and intraocular melanoma have more information. There are different types of brain and spinal cord tumors. These tumors are named based on the type of cell in which they formed and where the tumor first formed in the central nervous system.
For example, an astrocytic tumor begins in star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes , which help keep nerve cells healthy. Brain tumors can be benign not cancer or malignant cancer. Our pages on brain and spinal cord tumors in adults and brain and spinal cord tumors in children have more information. Germ cell tumors are a type of tumor that begins in the cells that give rise to sperm or eggs.
These tumors can occur almost anywhere in the body and can be either benign or malignant. Neuroendocrine tumors form from cells that release hormones into the blood in response to a signal from the nervous system. These tumors, which may make higher-than-normal amounts of hormones, can cause many different symptoms. Neuroendocrine tumors may be benign or malignant. Our definition of neuroendocrine tumors has more information.
Carcinoid tumors are a type of neuroendocrine tumor. They are slow-growing tumors that are usually found in the gastrointestinal system most often in the rectum and small intestine. Carcinoid tumors may spread to the liver or other sites in the body, and they may secrete substances such as serotonin or prostaglandins, causing carcinoid syndrome. Our page on gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors has more information. Menu Contact Dictionary Search.
Understanding Cancer. What Is Cancer? Cancer Statistics. Cancer Disparities. Cancer Causes and Prevention. Risk Factors. Cancer Prevention Overview. Cancer Screening Overview. Screening Tests. Diagnosis and Staging. Questions to Ask about Your Diagnosis. Types of Cancer Treatment. Side Effects of Cancer Treatment. Clinical Trials Information.
A to Z List of Cancer Drugs. Questions to Ask about Your Treatment. Feelings and Cancer. Adjusting to Cancer. Day-to-Day Life. Support for Caregivers. Questions to Ask About Cancer. Choices for Care. Talking about Your Advanced Cancer. Planning for Advanced Cancer. Advanced Cancer and Caregivers. Questions to Ask about Advanced Cancer. Managing Cancer Care.
Finding Health Care Services. Advance Directives. Using Trusted Resources. Coronavirus Information for Patients. Clinical Trials during Coronavirus. Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer.
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