Are benign tumours always better than malignant tumours?

What are the differences between benign and malignant tumours? Read this article to gain a deeper insight into these two types of tumours.

What is a tumour?

According to NIH, a tumour is an abnormal mass of tissue that forms when cells grow and divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumours may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).

Benign tumours

Benign tumours are noncancerous. They may grow large but benign tumours do not spread into, or invade, nearby tissues or other parts of the body. A benign tumour may not cause symptoms that you would notice and they rarely cause serious medical issues. The cause of benign tumours is still a mystery as researchers do not know exactly why certain cells begin dividing and become benign tumours.

3 common types of benign tumours:

1. Adenomas - this type starts in the epithelial tissue (the thin layer of tissues that cover organs and glands).

2. Chondromas - this type forms in the cartilage (the flexible connective tissue throughout your body that protects your bones and joints).

3. Fibromas - this type forms in your tendons and ligaments and you can develop them almost everywhere in your body.

Malignant tumours

Malignant tumours have breached the basement membrane and can spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. They can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems, also called neoplasms.

3 common types of malignant tumours:

1. Carcinomas - this type forms in your epithelial tissues. It makes up 90% of cancer cases.

2. Sarcomas - this type of tumour forms in connective tissues, like muscles and tendons.

3. Myelomas - this type of cancer forms in the plasma cells of your bone marrow.

Malignant vs Benign tumours

Malignant tumours:

• Able to invade the surrounding tissues

• Cells could travel through the blood and lymph system, bypassing apoptosis, to other parts of the body to form new tumours

• May have an uneven shape

Benign tumours:

• Don't invade nearby tissues

• Can't spread to other parts of the body

• Usually have a smooth shape

Which one is "better"?

Since benign tumours are non-cancerous and grow more slowly, they are often considered to have a "better" prognosis. However, this is not always the case as the location of the tumour is a huge consideration factor. For instance, in the case of the benign cancer called an acoustic neuroma, patients may experience hearing problems because the tumour could potentially push against the auditory nerve. Therefore, treatment may also be required for benign tumours.

Bibliography

1. National Cancer Institute. “Https://Www.cancer.gov/Publications/Dictionaries/Cancer-Terms/Def/Tumor.” Www.cancer.gov, 2 Feb. 2011, www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/tumor.

2. Cleveland Clinic. “Benign Tumor: Definition, Types, Causes & Management.” Cleveland Clinic, 10 Aug. 2021, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22121-benign-tumor.

3. Cleveland Clinic. “Malignant Neoplasm.” Cleveland Clinic, 1 Feb. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22319-malignant-neoplasm.

4. Pietrangelo, Ann. “Benign and Malignant Tumors: How Do They Differ?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 23 Oct. 2019, www.healthline.com/health/cancer/difference-between-benign-and-malignant-tumors#key-differences.

5. Blackburn, Kellie Bramlet. “Benign Tumors: 5 Common Questions.” MD Anderson Cancer Center, 10 Jan. 2022, www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-are-benign-tumors-and-four-more-questions.h00-159536589.html.

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