Benign Tumors

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They are made up of extra cells. Normally, old cells die, and new ones take their place. Sometimes, however, this process goes wrong. New cells form even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. When these extra cells form a mass, it is called a tumor.

Tumors 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 your brain.

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

External Resources

National Cancer Institute: Brain Tumors - Offers information on brain tumor, its diagnosis, and treatment. Covers topics on both benign and malignant adult and pediatric brain tumors.

Meningiomas and Benign Brain Tumors Homepage at MGH/Harvard - Information about neurosurgeons, referrals, guest book, links, and links to information about malignant brain tumors also. From Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School.

Patients Forum on Parotid Tumors - Presents photographs from before and after surgery for a benign tumor, as well as details of the operation.

Cancer: Causes and Effects - Chapter from Dr. Ed Friedlander's online textbook. Adiposis Dolorosa (Dercum's Disease) is mentioned (search for "adiposis"). Even though the lipomas (tumors) are benign, they can cause problems just by being, and he lists a number of examples.

Brorson/Fagher Article on Dercum's Disease or Adiposis Dolorosa - This is an excellent overview article on the disease characterized by painful lipomas (benign fatty tumors). Note that the first part of the article is a biography of Dr. Dercum.

South Sound Neurosurgery - Provides expertise in the treatment of benign and malignant primary brain tumors, including metastatic tumors. Drs. Wohns, Shin and Bakken perform brain surgeries in several hospitals in the South Sound region using highly advanced technology such as computer-guided neuronavigation (Stealth), and lasers.

Skin Cancer and Benign Tumor Image Atlas - A skin tumor image database from the Loyola university dermatology medical education network.

Anti-Cancer Vaccine for Different Tumors and Cancer Treatment - Today, the anti-cancer vaccines are successfully used for the prophylaxis and treatment of malignant and benign tumors.

Fatty Tumors in Dogs - Client information sheet for dogs with benign fatty tumors, also called lipomas.

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