Can i benign tumor become malignant

Fibromas : These tumors of connective tissue may be found in any organ. Fibroid tumors are named for where they form in the body, such as uterine fibroids. Desmoid tumor : These are often more aggressive than most benign tumors and may invade nearby tissue and organs. But they do not metastasize. Hemangiomas : These tumors are a collection of blood vessel cells in the skin or internal organs.

They may appear on the skin as a birthmark-like discoloration and often disappear on their own. Lipomas : These soft, round, fatty tumors are often found on the neck or shoulders. Leiomyomas : The most common gynecologic tumors in the United States, these may be found in the uterus. Their growth is fueled by hormones. How do you know if a tumor is cancerous? Related Articles What's the difference?

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Our patient services specialists can assist you with scheduling an appointment, questions about medical records, insurance, billing and more. Patient Appointment Center Hours: 7 a. However, they can become large and compress structures nearby, causing pain or other medical complications. For example, a large benign lung tumor could compress the trachea windpipe and cause difficulty in breathing. This would warrant urgent surgical removal. Benign tumors are unlikely to recur once removed.

Common examples of benign tumors are fibroids in the uterus and lipomas in the skin. Specific types of benign tumors can turn into malignant tumors.

These are monitored closely and may require surgical removal. For example, colon polyps another name for an abnormal mass of cells can become malignant and are therefore usually surgically removed. Malignant tumors are cancerous ie, they invade other sites. They spread to distant sites via the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. This spread is called metastasis. Metastasis can occur anywhere in the body and most commonly is found in the liver, lungs, brain, and bone.

Malignant tumors can spread rapidly and require treatment to avoid spread. If they are caught early, treatment is likely to be surgery with possible chemotherapy or radiotherapy. If the cancer has spread, the treatment is likely to be systemic, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy. American Cancer Society www. Cancer Research UK www.

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