Benign and Malignant Brain Tumor
A tumor 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 tumors do not pose a threat to life whereas malignant tumors need immediate attention and are life threatening.
- Benign tumors are slow growing tumors that stay in their primary location without invading other sites of the body.
- They do not spread to local structures or to distant parts of the body.
- They usually have well-defined and distinct borders.
- It may be months or even years before a benign tumor changes significantly in size.
- Benign tumors move freely within or on the tissue they reside on and are surrounded by a protective sac that segregates it from the rest of the brain and also facilitates its easy removal.
- When located in areas of the brain that control vital bodily functions, benign brain tumors can be life threatening.
- If they are not life threatening, they can be surgically removed without causing any harm.
- Benign tumors need periodic tests to ensure that it is not converting to a malignant tumor and to also ensure that there are no additional tumors formed.
- Prognosis of brain tumors is usually favorable
- Malignant brain tumors 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 its 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 its place of origin. Primary brain tumors originate in the brain, whereas secondary or metastatic brain tumors originate in some other organ and spread to the brain. Primary brain tumor rarely spreads beyond the brain or spinal cord.
- Malignant tumors are difficult to move around due to the local tissue invasions