Types of Tumors

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Types of Tumors
Source: National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health. www.cancer.gov
Benign (or non-cancerous)
Not cancer
the cells that make up the growth are similar to other normal cells, grow relatively slowly, and are confined to one location.
Malignant (or cancerous)
Cancer
the cells are very different from normal cells, grow relatively quickly, and can spread easily to other locations.
Tumors are abnormal growths of body tissue. The word tumor is used to describe both abnormal growths that are new (neoplasms) and those present at birth (congenital tumors). No matter where they are located in the body, tumors are usually classed as benign or malignant.
Benign tumors aren't cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.
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