Benign Tumors: Understanding Non-Cancerous Growths

Benign tumors are abnormal growths that are made up of extra cells. These tumors are non-cancerous and most are not harmful to health. These tumors develop on one part of the body and do not spread. A typical benign tumor is a mole.

Function

• A benign tumor swells abnormal tissue mass, known as neoplasms, that is a result of genetic abnormalities.

Types

• There are many different types of benign tumors depending on where they are found in the body. All are non-cancerous, but some, including colon polyps, may cause further genetic changes that could result in the tumor becoming malignant.

Identification

• Common benign tumors include chondroma, a tumor found in cartilage-forming cells; adenoma, a tumor found in gland-forming cells; and lipoma, a tumor found in fat cells.

Effects

• Benign tumor symptoms include appearance changes, bleeding, itching and pressure or pain.

Prevention/Solution

• Most benign tumors do not need treatment. If a tumor is causing health risks or a patient has cosmetic concerns, surgery is performed to remove the tumor.