Benign and Malignant Brain Tumour
A tumour is an abnormal mass of cells in the body. It is caused when cells divide uncontrollably. It can either be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
It is important to know if the tumour is benign or malignant, to determine its prognosis. Although brain cancer rarely spreads to other organs, it can spread to other organs, it can spread to other parts of the brain and the central nervous system. The benign tumours do not pose a threat to life whereas malignant tumours need immediate attention and are life-threatening.
- Benign tumours are slow-growing tumours that stay in their primary location without invading other sites of the body.
- They do not spread to local structures or distant parts of the body.
- They usually have well-defined and distinct borders.
- It may be months or even years before a benign tumour changes significantly in size.
- Benign tumours move freely within or on the tissue they reside on and are surrounded by a protective sac that segregates them from the rest of the brain and this also facilitates its easy removal.
- When located in areas of the brain that control vital bodily functions, benign brain tumours can be life-threatening.
- If they are not life-threatening, they can be surgically removed without causing any harm.
- Benign tumours need periodic tests to ensure that it is not converting to a malignant tumour and to also ensure that there are no additional tumours formed.
- Prognosis of brain tumours is usually favourable.
- Malignant brain tumours are made up of cancerous cells.
- They grow fast and are generally invasive and life-threatening.
- They have an irregular shape and it is difficult to define their border.
- They have the ability to multiply uncontrollably and can grow appreciably in just a few weeks.
- They may cause ulcerations.
- They can either be primary or secondary depending on their place of origin. Primary brain tumours originate in the brain, whereas secondary or metastatic brain tumours originate in some other organ and spread to the brain. Primary brain tumour rarely spreads beyond the brain or spinal cord.
- Malignant tumours are difficult to move around due to the local tissue invasions.
