Benign Tumors

Summary

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren’t cancer. Malignant ones are. Benign tumors grow only in one place. They cannot spread or invade other parts of your body. Even so, they can be dangerous if they press on vital organs, such as your brain.

Tumors are made up of extra cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as your body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when your body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form tumor.

Treatment often involves surgery. Benign tumors usually don’t grow back.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute

Genetics

• Adiposis dolorosa: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Aldosterone-producing adenoma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Carney complex: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Cowden syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• CYLD cutaneous syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Desmoid tumor: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Epidermal nevus: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Hereditary multiple osteochondromas: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Learning about Dercum Disease National Human Genome Research Institute
• Pilomatricoma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Potocki-Shaffer syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute

Encyclopedia

• Atrial myxoma Medical Encyclopedia
• Benign ear cyst or tumor Medical Encyclopedia
• Craniopharyngioma Medical Encyclopedia
• Epidermoid cyst Medical Encyclopedia
• Fibroadenoma – breast Medical Encyclopedia
• Ganglioneuroma Medical Encyclopedia
• Gumma Medical Encyclopedia
• Hemangioma Medical Encyclopedia
• Hemangioma excision – series — Indications Medical Encyclopedia
• Hepatic hemangioma Medical Encyclopedia
• Insulinoma Medical Encyclopedia
• Intestinal leiomyoma Medical Encyclopedia
• Juvenile angiofibroma Medical Encyclopedia
• Lacrimal gland tumor Medical Encyclopedia
• Nasal polyps Medical Encyclopedia
• Open lung biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Pyogenic granuloma Medical Encyclopedia
• Sebaceous adenoma Medical Encyclopedia
• Seborrheic keratosis Medical Encyclopedia
• Thyroid nodule Medical Encyclopedia
• Tumor Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Benign Liver Tumors American Liver Foundation
• Bone Tumor American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Chondroblastoma American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Chondromyxoid Fibroma American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Enchondroma American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Extra-Abdominal Desmoid Tumors (Aggressive Fibromatoses) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Hemangioma American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Lipoma Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Liver Hemangioma Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Meningioma Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Osteochondroma American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Osteoid Osteoma American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Pituitary Tumors National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Plantar Fibroma and Plantar Fibromatosis American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
• Prolactinoma National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis or Laryngeal Papillomatosis National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
• Stomach Polyps Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Synovial Chondromatosis American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Thyroid Nodules Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Patient Handouts

• Cherry angioma Medical Encyclopedia
• Polyp biopsy Medical Encyclopedia

Images

• Cherry Hemangioma VisualDX
• Dermatofibroma VisualDX
• Keratoacanthoma VisualDX
• Pilar Cyst VisualDX
• Pyogenic Granuloma VisualDX
• Seborrheic Keratoses VisualDX
• Syringoma VisualDX

Children

• Childhood Cardiac (Heart) Tumors Treatment National Cancer Institute
• General Information about Childhood Craniopharyngioma National Cancer Institute
• Guide to Understanding Hemangiomas Children’s Craniofacial Association
• Strawberry Hemangioma VisualDX

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Adenoma National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemangioma National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Papilloma National Institutes of Health

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms National Cancer Institute

Women

• Non-Cancerous Breast Conditions American Cancer Society
• Uterine Polyps Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Diagnosis and Tests

• PTEN Genetic Test National Library of Medicine

Journal Articles

• Benign Tumors

Treatments and Therapies

• Treatment Option Overview (Childhood Craniopharyngioma) National Cancer Institute

Related Issues

• Tumor vs. Cyst: What’s the Difference? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research