Benign

Benign, or non-cancerous, is a term used in the medical field that describes a condition that is both mild and not progressing. Specifically, benign is mostly used in the discipline of oncology and refers to a tumor that is not malignant (cancerous and spreading). However, this does not imply that the tumor is harmless. Although slow-growing, benign tumors can press on sensitive tissues, blood vessels, nerves, and organs, and potentially disrupt their normal function. Symptoms suggestive of certain benign tumors include intestinal blockage, itching, abnormal pressure sensations, and anemia due to blood loss (1).

Generally, benign tumors are abnormal masses of tissue that are composed of cells that are self-limiting in terms of growth potential. In some cases, negative health effects are realized before the benign masses have reached their growth limit. Benign intracranial (brain) tumors can very quickly create a mass effect. This occurs, and can be devastating, because the brain is enclosed in a bony casing with nowhere to go when a space-occupying lesion is introduced. This phenomenon can also befall blood vessels. Moreover, benign tumors affecting endocrine glands can cause an overproduction of otherwise normal hormones.

In most cases, the suffix -oma suggests a benign nature of a tumor (1). Important exceptions are -sarcoma, and -blastoma, as well as, melanoma and seminoma.

Benign tumors can retain an ability to progress to a malignant cancer. The tumor can undergo mutations during any number of genetic fluxes that may give rise to a malignant subpopulation. For example, polyps found in the colon are harmless, however, the passage of time can allow the polyp to become a malignant tumor that is diagnosed as colon cancer. Like other benign tumors that subsequently progress to a malignant state, errors in cell maturation have been shown to be important precursors (1). Surgery is the most common and effective therapy to address benign tumors.

'Benign' Sources:
  1. Ramzi, C. et al., "Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease, 6th Edition". W.B. Saunders, 1999.

 

 

 

 

 
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