tumor
Cancer is the disease of the age, where tumors are either benign or malignant tumors, so what is the difference between a benign and malignant tumor?
Difference between benign and malignant tumor
Here are the most important details about the difference between a benign and a malignant tumor:
Difference between benign and malignant tumor
Tumors are a disease that results from the abnormal and rapid growth of cells, so that the body loses the ability to control the growth and death of cells in a specific part, where tumors are generally classified into benign tumors or malignant tumors.
1. Benign tumor
It is defined as an abnormal growth of cells, but they are non-cancerous cells, that is, they do not invade or spread to the surrounding cells, but rather remain and grow in the same place where they originated, and benign tumors grow slowly, and do not return again after being removed.
2. Malignant tumor
It is a cancerous growth in which cells grow rapidly and out of control, and malignant tumors differ from benign tumors in their ability to move and spread from the affected organ, i.e. from their place of origin, to any other organ in the body through blood or lymph.
Characteristics of benign and malignant tumors
The following table shows the difference between a benign and a malignant tumor in terms of cell characteristics:
Characteristics of benign neoplastic cells
Characteristics of malignant tumor cells
It does not spread from the place of origin.
spread from the place of origin.
Its growth is often slow.
Its growth is rapid and uncontrolled.
It does not invade nearby cells.
Invade both proximal and distal cells.
Do not come back after treatment.
It may return again after treatment, in the same organ, or in another organ.
They appear similar to normal cells from the outside, and also from the inside so that the shape of the chromosomes and DNA is normal under the microscope.
They appear abnormally and randomly under the microscope, and the inside of the cell, including the chromosomes and DNA it contains, also appears abnormally, and it is characterized by a large, dark-colored nucleus.
It does not secrete hormones or any other substances.
It may secrete hormones and some substances that lead to body fatigue and weight loss.
Types of benign and malignant tumor
Here is the most important difference between a benign and malignant tumor in terms of type:
1. Types of benign tumors
The following are the most common types of benign tumors
Adenocarcinomas: Adenomas arise in the epithelial tissue of cells, and examples include: colon polyps or some endocrine tumors.
Fibroids: arise in fibrous or connective tissues, including: fibers that usually appear in the uterus.
Hemangiomas: benign tumors that arise due to abnormal growth in blood vessels, and usually fade on their own.
Lipomas: Tumors that arise in fat cells.
Meningioma: Some tumors that arise in the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Myomas: are those that arise in the muscles.
Melanoma: Tumors that originate in a mole.
Neuroma: Some tumors that originate in the nerves.
Osteochondroma: benign tumors that arise in the bones.
Papillomas: Tumors that arise in the epithelial tissue.
2. Types of malignant tumors
To know the difference between a benign and malignant tumor, the following are the most prominent types of malignant tumors:
Carcinoma: It arises in the epithelial tissues of the cells, which are the tissues that envelop most of the organs of the body, as this type arises in the stomach, prostate, pancreas, lung, and liver.
Sarcoma: It arises in connective tissues, and it arises in bones, fat cells, cartilage, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.
Leukemia: Cancer that arises in the bone marrow that produces blood cells.
Lymphoma: Cancer that originates in one part of the lymph system, such as lymphoma.
Sex cell tumor: It often appears in the cells of the organs of the reproductive system, such as: ovaries or testes, but it may originate in the brain, abdomen or chest.
Blastoma: It arises in children in most cases, and it may appear in the brain, nerves, or eyes.
Tumor to clarify the difference between a benign and malignant tumor.
Methods of treating benign and malignant tumors
The difference between a benign and a malignant tumor in terms of treatment is that with regard to a benign tumor, in most cases the doctor may not resort to treatment, but rather depends on monitoring the disease periodically, but in the event that the size of the tumor is large and accompanied by symptoms Because of the pressure on the nerves or vessels and neighboring organs, treatment is done for fear of the transformation of benign cells into malignant.
In most cases, benign tumors are treated with surgery, and radiation therapy or medications may be used. As for the treatment of malignant tumors, treatment must begin immediately upon diagnosis for fear of further spread of the disease. Treatment is done using surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. or immunotherapies.
