Types of benign tumors treatment. How do you know if a tumor is malignant?
1. Differences between benign and malignant tumors
The division of tumors into malignant and benign determines the prognosis and tactics of treating the disease. The main fundamental differences between benign and malignant tumors
Atypia and polymorphism
Atypia and polymorphism are more characteristic of malignant tumors. In benign tumors, their cells exactly repeat the structure of the cells of the tissues from which they originated, or have minimal differences.
growth pattern
Benign tumors are characterized by expansive growth: the tumor grows as if by itself, increases and pushes the surrounding organs and tissues apart.
In malignant tumors, growth is infiltrating in nature: the tumor, like claws of cancer, captures, penetrates, infiltrates the surrounding tissues, sprouting at the same time blood vessels, nerves, etc.
Metastasis
As a result of tumor growth, some of its cells can break off, enter other organs and tissues and cause the growth of a secondary, daughter tumor there. This process is called metastasis, and the daughter tumor is called metastasis.
Only malignant neoplasms are prone to metastasis.
There are three main ways of metastasis:
lymphogenous;
hematogenous;
implantation.
Recurrence
Recurrence is understood as the re-development of a tumor in the same area after surgical removal or destruction with radiation or chemotherapy. The possibility of recurrence is a characteristic feature of malignant neoplasms.
Influence on the general condition of the patient
In benign tumors, the entire clinical picture is associated with known manifestations. Formations can cause inconvenience, compress nerves, blood vessels, disrupt the function of neighboring organs. At the same time, they do not affect the general condition of the patient. The exception is some tumors, which, despite their "histological goodness", cause serious changes in the patient's condition, and sometimes lead to his death. In such cases, they speak of a benign tumor with a malignant clinical course. Here are some examples.
Tumors of the endocrine organs. Their development increases the level of production of the corresponding hormone, which causes characteristic general symptoms. Pheochromocytoma, for example, releasing a large amount of catecholamines into the blood, causes arterial hypertension, tachycardia, autonomic reactions.
Tumors of vital organs significantly disrupt the state of the body due to a violation of their function. For example, a benign brain tumor during growth compresses brain areas with vital centers, which poses a threat to the life of the patient.
A malignant tumor leads to a number of changes in the general condition of the body, called cancer intoxication, up to the development of cancer cachexia (exhaustion). This is due to the rapid growth of the tumor, its consumption of a large amount of nutrients, energy reserves, plastic material, which naturally impoverishes the supply of other organs and systems.
Classificationbenign tumors
They are divided into types depending on the tissue from which they originated.
Fibroma is a tumor of the connective tissue.
Lipoma is a tumor of adipose tissue.
Myoma - a tumor of muscle tissue (rhabdomyoma - striated, leiomyoma - smooth) and so on.
If two types of tissues or more are present in the tumor, they have the appropriate names: fibrolipoma, fibroadenoma, fibromyoma, etc.
Classificationmalignant tumors
Epithelial tumors are called cancer (carcinoma, carcinoma). Depending on the origin, in highly differentiated neoplasms, this name is specified: keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, follicular and papillary cancer, etc. In low-differentiated tumors, it is possible to specify the tumor cell form: small cell carcinoma, cricoid cell carcinoma, etc.
Connective tissue tumors are called sarcomas. With a relatively high differentiation, the name of the tumor repeats the name of the tissue from which it developed: liposarcoma, myosarcoma, etc.
Of great importance in the prognosis of malignant neoplasms is the degree of tumor differentiation - the lower it is, the faster its growth, the greater the frequency of metastases and relapses.
Currently, the international classification of TNM and the clinical classification of malignant tumors are considered generally accepted.
ClassificationTNM
The TNM classification is accepted worldwide. In accordance with it, a malignant tumor is given a separate characteristic of the following parameters:
T (tumor) - the size and local spread of the tumor;
N (node) - the presence and characteristics of metastases in regional lymph nodes;
M (metastasis) - the presence of distant metastases;
In addition to its original form, the classification was later extended with two more characteristics:
G (grade) - degree of malignancy;
P (penetration) - the degree of germination of the wall of a hollow organ (only for tumors of the gastrointestinal tract).
Clinical classification
In the clinical classification, all the main parameters of a malignant neoplasm (the size of the primary tumor, germination into surrounding organs, the presence of regional and distant metastases) are considered together.
There are four stages of the disease:
Stage I - the tumor is localized, occupies a limited area, does not germinate the wall of the organ, there are no metastases.
Stage II - a tumor of moderate size, does not spread outside the organ, single metastases to regional lymph nodes are possible.
stage - a large tumor, with decay, germinates the entire wall of the organ or a smaller tumor with multiple metastases to regional lymph nodes.
stage - the germination of the tumor in the surrounding organs, including those that cannot be removed (aorta, vena cava, etc.), or any tumor with distant metastases.
benign tumors. Clinical picture, diagnosis. Indications for surgical treatment. precancerous conditions. Malignant tumors. clinical picture. Classification. Modern types of early diagnosis. Modern methods of treatment.
Features of the diagnosis of benign tumors
Diagnosis of benign formations is based solely on local symptoms, signs of the presence of the tumor itself.
Often patients pay attention to the appearance of some kind of education themselves. Tumors usually slowly increase in size, do not cause pain, have a rounded shape, a clear border with surrounding tissues, and a smooth surface.
The main concern is the education itself.
Sometimes there are signs of dysfunction of the organ (a polyp of the intestine leads to obstructive intestinal obstruction: a benign brain tumor, squeezing the surrounding sections, leads to the appearance of neurological symptoms; adrenal adenoma due to the release of hormones into the blood leads to arterial hypertension, etc.).
It should be noted that the diagnosis of benign tumors is not particularly difficult. By themselves, they cannot threaten the life of the patient. A possible danger is only a violation of the function of organs, which is noted in some localizations of formations, but this, in turn, quite clearly manifests the disease.
Diagnosis of malignant tumors
Diagnosis of malignant neoplasms is quite difficult, which is associated with a variety of clinical manifestations of these diseases.
In the clinic of malignant tumors, four main syndromes can be distinguished:
plus-tissue syndrome;
pathological discharge syndrome;
organ dysfunction syndrome;
syndrome of small signs.
Plus tissue syndrome
A neoplasm can be detected directly in the location area as a new, additional tissue - "plus-tissue". This symptom is easy to identify with superficial localization of the tumor (in the skin, subcutaneous tissue or muscles), as well as on the extremities. Sometimes it is possible to probe the tumor in the abdominal cavity.
In addition, the "plus-tissue" sign can be determined using special research methods:
endoscopy (laparoscopy, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, cystoscopy, etc.),
x-ray or ultrasound examination, etc.
Syndrome of pathological discharge
In the presence of a malignant tumor due to the germination of blood vessels by it, spotting or bleeding often occurs.
So, stomach cancer can cause stomach bleeding,
uterine tumor - uterine bleeding or spotting, with breast cancer, a characteristic sign is serous-hemorrhagic discharge from the nipple,
lung cancer is characterized by hemoptysis,
with germination of the pleura - the formation of hemorrhagic effusion in the pleural cavity,
with rectal cancer, rectal bleeding is possible, with a kidney tumor - hematuria.
Organ dysfunction syndrome
The very name of the syndrome suggests that its manifestations are very diverse and are determined by the localization of the tumor and the function of the organ in which it is located.
Bowel formations are characterized by signs of intestinal obstruction.
For a tumor of the stomach - dyspeptic disorders (nausea, heartburn, vomiting, etc.). In patients with esophageal cancer, the leading symptom is a violation of the act of swallowing food - dysphagia, etc.
These symptoms are not specific, but are often found in patients with malignant tumors.
Syndrome of small signs
Weakness, fatigue, fever, weight loss, poor appetite (aversion to meat food, especially with stomach cancer), anemia, increased ESR are noted.
First of all, when a patient receives information that a tumor has settled somewhere in him, he wants to know its goodness. Not everyone knows that a benign neoplasm is not cancer and does not belong to it in any way, but you should not relax either, since in many cases even this tumor can develop into a malignant one.
At the stage of diagnosis, as soon as a neoplasm has been identified, it is necessary to determine its malignancy. Such formations differ in the prognosis for the patient and the course of the disease itself.
Many people confuse benign and malignant tumors, although these are completely different cancers. They may have similarities, only in that they come from the same cellular structures.
malignant tumor
Malignant tumors are neoplasms that begin to grow uncontrollably, and the cells are very different from healthy ones, do not perform their function and do not die.
Kinds
| Variety | Description |
| Cancer | Occurs in the process of disruption of healthy epithelial cells. They are found almost everywhere on the skin and inside organs. This is the uppermost shell, which is constantly updated, growing and subject to external factors. The immune system controls the process of differentiation and division. If the process of cell reproduction is disturbed, then a neoplasm may appear. |
| Sarcoma | They grow from connective tissue: tendons, muscles, fat, vessel walls. A rarer pathology than cancer, but proceeds faster and more aggressively. |
| glioma | Arises and grows from glial neurosystem cells in the brain. There is a headache and dizziness. |
| Leukemia | Or blood cancer affecting the hematopoietic system. It originates in the stem cells of the bone marrow. |
| Teratoma | Occurs with a mutation of embryonic tissues, in fetal development. |
| Nerve tissue formation | Formations begin to grow from nerve cells. They belong to a separate group. |
| Lymphoma | Appears from the lymphatic tissue, due to which the body becomes more vulnerable to other diseases. |
| Choriocarcinoma | from placental cells. Occurs only in women from the ovaries, uterus, etc. |
| Melanoma | Another name for skin cancer, although this is not entirely true. Neoplasm grows from melanocytes. Often rebirth comes from nevi and birthmarks. |
Signs and features
- Autonomy Mutation occurs at the gene level when the main cell cycle is disrupted. And if a healthy cell can divide a limited number of times, and then dies, then a cancer cell can divide indefinitely. Under favorable conditions, it can exist and be immortal, given an innumerable number of its own kind.
- Atypia- the cell becomes different from healthy ones at the cytological level. A large core appears, the internal structure and the embedded program change. In benign ones, they are very close in structure to normal cells. Malignant cells completely change their functions, metabolism and sensitivity to certain hormones. Such cells usually in the process are even more transformed and adapted to the environment.
- Metastases- Healthy cells have a thicker intercellular layer, which clearly holds them and does not allow them to move. In malignant cells, at a certain point, more often at the 4th stage of development of the formation, they break off and are transferred through the lymphatic and blood systems. The metastases themselves, after traveling, settle in the organs or lymph nodes and begin to grow there, affecting the nearest tissues and organs.
- Invasion These cells have the ability to grow into healthy cells and destroy them. In doing so, they also release toxic substances, waste products that help cancer grow. In benign formations, they do not damage, but simply as a result of growth, they begin to move away healthy cells, as it were, squeezing them.
Carcinoma and other malignant pathologies begin to grow rather quickly, grow into the nearest organ, affecting local tissues. Later, at stages 3 and 4, metastasis occurs and the cancer spreads throughout the body, affecting both organs and lymph nodes.
There is also such a thing as differentiation, the growth rate of education also depends on it.
- Highly differentiated cancer is slow and not aggressive.
- Moderately differentiated cancer - average growth rate.
- Undifferentiated cancer is a very fast and aggressive cancer. Very dangerous for the patient.
General symptoms
The first symptoms of a malignant tumor are very blurred, and the disease is very secretive. Often, at the first symptoms, patients confuse them with ordinary diseases. It is clear that each neoplasm has its own symptoms, which depend on the location and stage, but we will tell you about the general ones.
- Intoxication - the tumor releases a huge amount of waste products and additional toxins.
- Due to intoxication, headaches, nausea, and vomiting occur.
- Inflammation - occurs due to the fact that the immune system begins to fight atypical cells.
- Weight Loss - Cancer consumes a lot of energy and nutrients. Also, against the background of intoxication, appetite decreases.
- Weakness, pain in the bones, muscles.
- Anemia.
Diagnostics
Many are concerned about the question: "How to determine a malignant tumor?". To do this, the doctor conducts a series of examinations and analyzes, where already at the last stage either a malignant or benign formation is detected.
- An initial examination and questioning of the patient is carried out.
- A general and biochemical blood test is prescribed. You can already see some deviations on it. An increased number of leukocytes, ESR, as well as other indicators may indicate oncology. They can prescribe a test for tumor markers, but this is done quite rarely during screening.
- ultrasound- according to the symptoms, the place of localization is revealed and an examination is done. You can see a slight seal and size.
- MRI, CT- at later stages, malignancy can be seen on this examination if the cancer grows into the nearest organs and affects other tissues.
- Biopsy- the most accurate method to determine even at stage 1, malignancy. A piece of education is taken for histological examination.
First, a complete diagnosis takes place, and then treatment is already prescribed, depending on the location, the affected organ, stage, damage to the nearest organ and the presence of metastases.
benign tumor
Let's still answer the frequently asked question: "Is a benign tumor a cancer or not?" - No, such neoplasms most often have a favorable prognosis and almost one hundred percent cure for the disease. Of course, here you need to take into account the localization and degree of tissue damage.
At the cytological level, cancer cells are almost identical to healthy ones. They also have a high degree of differentiation. The main difference from cancer is that such a tumor is located inside a certain tissue capsule and does not affect the nearest cells, but can strongly compress neighboring ones.
Signs and difference with malignant conformation
- Large collection of cells.
- Wrong tissue construction.
- Low chance of relapse.
- Do not grow into nearby tissues.
- Do not emit toxins and poisons.
- Do not violate the integrity of nearby tissues. And it is located in the localization of its cellular structure.
- Slow growth.
- The ability to malignancy - transformation into cancer. Especially dangerous for: polyps of the gastrointestinal tract, papillomas of the reproductive system, nevi (moles), adenomas, etc.
Benign tumors are not treated with chemotherapy using chemotherapy drugs, nor are they irradiated. Surgical removal is usually used, it is quite simple to do this, since the formation itself is located within the same tissue and is separated by a capsule. If the tumor is small, then it can be treated with medication.
Stages of development of a benign tumor
- Initiation- there is a mutation of one of the two genes: reproduction, immortality. In a malignant tumor, two mutations occur at once.
- Promotion- no symptoms, cells actively multiply and divide.
- Progression- The tumor becomes large and begins to put pressure on neighboring walls. May become malignant.
Types of tumors
Usually, the division by type comes from the tissue structure, or rather, from what type of tissue the tumor originated: connective, tissue, fatty, muscle, etc.
mesenchyme
- Vascular neoplasia - vascular sarcomas, hemangiomas, lymphangiomas.
- Connective tissue neoplasms - fibrosarcoma, fibroma.
- Bone formations - osteosarcomas, osteomas.
- Muscle tumors - myosarcomas, rhabdomyomas, leiomyomas.
- Fatty neoplasia - liposarcoma, lipoma.
Appearance
The tumors themselves can have a different appearance, usually malignant neoplasms and cancer have a chaotic accumulation of cells and tissues in the form of a mushroom, cabbage, with masonry and a rough surface, with bumps and nodules.
When growing into neighboring tissues, suppuration, hemorrhages, necrosis, secretion of mucus, lymph and blood may appear. Tumor cells feed on stroma and parenchyma. The lower the differentiation and the greater the aggressiveness of the neoplasm, the fewer these components and the more atypical cells.
Risk factors
Until now, the exact cause of both benign and malignant tumors has not been clarified. But there are a few guesses:
- Alcohol.
- Smoking.
- Wrong nutrition.
- Ecology.
- Radiation.
- Obesity.
- Viruses and infectious diseases.
- genetic predisposition.
- HIV and immune diseases.
Conclusion
A cancerous tumor or any malignant neoplasm can pretend to be its own in the eyes of the immune system, evade any attack by leukocytes and adapt to any microclimate inside the body. That is why it is very difficult to deal with it.
Every year, humanity suffers from an increasing number of various diseases. Of course, medicine does not stand still, so scientists are developing drugs for new ailments, but some of them are so dangerous that they can be fatal. Each person should be as aware as possible of what is the difference between a malignant tumor and a benign one, in order to protect themselves as much as possible, and also start treatment on time. In this article, we will talk about the main differences between these neoplasms.
Introduction
As you know, the skin is the largest organ of the human body and the least protected. It is she who is subject to the maximum impact from the environment, and also the general health of all organs and their systems is displayed on it. On the epidermis, you can find neoplasms such as common moles, warts, and many others. By themselves, they do not pose a serious threat, but due to some circumstances, they can cause serious cancers.
However, not only the skin is prone to the occurrence of the disease can affect any organ of your body. Therefore, it is very important to understand the differences between a malignant tumor and a benign one.
Classification of differences
As you know, all existing tumors are divided into benign and malignant. If we consider the difference between a malignant tumor and a benign one, then it is worth considering the fact of the name of your diagnosis. For example, if the neoplasm is benign, then the suffix "oma" will be added to its name. For example, myoma, neurinoma, lipoma, chondroma and many others.
If benign cells become malignant under the influence of certain factors, then in this case the classification will depend on the type of tissue. If it was the connecting cells that were damaged, then the disease belongs to a group called "sarcoma". But diseases caused due to changes in epithelial tissues are included in the group of cancer diseases.
What is a benign tumor
If you know the main differences between a benign tumor and a malignant one, you can identify the problem at an early stage and start treatment on time. In the future, this may simply save your life.
A benign tumor is a neoplasm that occurs as a result of improper cell growth and division. Because of this, the cellular structure in a certain part of the body changes, and, therefore, all other phenomena associated with this cell also change.
The main difference between a benign tumor and a malignant one is its very slow growth. Often, such a neoplasm does not change its size throughout a person’s life, or it grows very slowly. After a certain time period, such a neoplasm can completely disappear or, conversely, turn into a malignant form.
Also, the difference between a benign tumor and a malignant one is that it does not affect the entire body as a whole.
How to determine if a tumor is benign
Usually a benign neoplasm is mobile and has no articulation with neighboring tissues. If you touch such a place, it can cause pain and discomfort. Such a neoplasm can also bleed. If the tumors are inside the body, then sometimes their presence is accompanied by pain and general poor health. However, most often such pathologies do not make themselves felt at all. Therefore, they can only be detected during diagnostics or upon careful examination of the skin.
Causes of benign tumor cells
The main reason for the occurrence of this phenomenon is considered to be a violation of the vital activity of cells. As you know, the cells in our body are updated approximately 42-45 hours. However, if after this line the cell continues its growth and vital activity, then tumor-like formations arise.
The following factors can lead to improper cell growth:
- leading an unhealthy lifestyle;
- radiation;
- frequent and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays;
- unfavorable working conditions;
- improper functioning of the hormonal system;
- failures of immunity;
- the presence of various injuries.
According to scientists, benign formations can occur in absolutely every person. The difference between a malignant tumor and a benign one, the symptoms are very important information that every person in this world should be familiar with in order to control their health level.
Varieties of benign tumors
As you know, this type of pathology is inherent in absolutely any tissue. Quite often, patients have noticed the development of such benign tumors as fibroids, lipomas, papilloma, adenomas, gliomas, cysts, and many others. All of them are capable of very rapid growth, so their condition must be constantly monitored.
What is a malignant tumor
The very word "malignant" in medicine indicates something dangerous. This pathology is very dangerous for human health and can lead to death. The tumor itself is not so terrible as the metastases that it forms. They affect neighboring organs and organ systems in the body, which interferes with its proper functioning. If such a condition is left to chance, then in the later stages it is almost impossible to cure it.
How do you know if a tumor is malignant?
The differences between a malignant tumor and a benign one (photos of oncological diseases are presented in the article) lie in the general condition of the patient. In the presence of malignant tumors, the whole organism suffers. A person begins to lose weight rapidly, constantly suffering from nausea, vomiting, fever, cough, depression and weakness.
Usually, in the earliest stages, the disease does not manifest itself in any way, so it is simply impossible to recognize the disease at home. However, the more the disease begins to progress, the more it makes itself felt. Therefore, at the first symptoms of poor health, go to the hospital. The sooner you start treatment, the more effective it will be.
Causes
The classification and difference between a malignant tumor and a benign one are described in detail in this article, so if you have the first symptoms of the disease, immediately contact highly qualified specialists.
If the disease was detected in the early stages, according to doctors, it can be eliminated in almost one hundred percent of cases.
Both internal and external factors can lead to the development of this pathology. Consider what can lead to the occurrence of malignant tumors:
- Very often, oncopathology leads to the use of a large amount of harmful and fatty foods. According to experts, malnourished people are much more prone to developing malignant tumors. At the same time, it is also not necessary to exclude the use of excessive amounts of alcohol and tobacco.
- Frequent and prolonged exposure to stress.
- Radiation and work in harmful conditions also lead to diseases.
- Do not exclude the frequent change of sexual partners, as well as the negative impact of the environment.
What are malignant tumors
The classification of malignant tumors depends on the cells from which they are formed. Such dangerous ailments include sarcoma, leukemia and many others. The main differences between a benign tumor and a malignant one are that the first type of disease is conditionally dangerous, while the other is extremely dangerous.
It should be borne in mind that diseases caused by tumors can develop in patients of absolutely any age. Therefore, there are cases when the disease begins to progress even in infancy.
The difference between ki 67 benign and malignant tumors
Index ki 67 implies cancer antigen. If the analysis revealed an increased indicator, then the disease is at the stage of development. If the marker is not detected or is minimal, then the cancer cell is at rest.
In fact, there are many other differences. In this article, we will look at the most significant of them.
So, the first and most important difference between a benign and a malignant formation is the rate of its growth. More often, more dangerous tumors grow much faster than less dangerous ones. However, there are exceptions to this rule as well. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.
Also an important difference between benign formations is their ability to develop metastases. If benign formations can only spread locally, then malignant ones also affect other organs of the body.
It is also worth considering that cancer cells are capable of recurrence. This suggests that if you have eliminated a disease that has arisen, for example, in the stomach, it can occur again, but in another organ.
Malignant cells are capable of invasion. This suggests that they can cause damage not only to one organ, but also to neighboring ones. Thus, cancer cells spread very quickly to other organs without borders. But benign formations are characterized by the presence of clear boundaries and contours. However, if they begin to increase in size, this can put pressure on other organs. Therefore, the state of benign formations also needs to be constantly monitored.
The difference between a benign tumor and a malignant breast (or any other part of the body) also lies in the appearance of the cells. So, benign cells are lighter, while malignant ones, on the contrary, are darker.
There is also a difference in the methods of treatment. So, relatively safe neoplasms are most often removed using a surgical method, while dangerous ones are removed using chemotherapy or radiation exposure.
precancerous cells
The difference between a benign tumor and a malignant lung or any other organ depends on many factors. Benign tumors do not become malignant overnight. There is also a precancerous stage called neoplasia. It is at this stage that the treatment will be most effective. However, few people realize that negative changes begin to occur in the body, so most often this stage in the development of the disease is simply ignored.
The difference between a malignant tumor and a benign one on MRI
In fact, using a diagnostic method such as MRI, you can determine the type of tumor. If the neoplasm is benign, then it will have a homogeneous structure, as well as clear contours. Since it will be used when examining for the presence of tumors, in this case the formation will not accumulate a large amount of contrast.
But if the tumor is malignant, then the picture will show that it does not have clear cells and will grow into healthy tissues. In addition, the structure of the neoplasm will be heterogeneous. Quite often, with malignant pathologies, tissue swelling occurs. At the same time, such formations very well accumulate a contrast agent.
conclusions
Despite the fact that benign formations are conditionally dangerous, you need to regularly monitor their condition. After all, they can cause significant harm to your health. Often these cells become cancerous.
Do not think that cancer is a death sentence. If you lead the right lifestyle, as well as take care of yourself, you can minimize the risk of developing such a dangerous pathology. Do not forget that any disease is much easier to cure at a very early stage, so at the first complaints of feeling unwell, go to the hospital.
Know that even malignant tumors can be cured, especially if you started treatment in the very early stages. Therefore, do not run your health, you have one. Take care of yourself, take care of yourself, and then you will understand that life is beautiful.
As you know, various neoplasms can appear inside our body. They are divided into 2 main types:
- benign;
- malignant.
The number of patients diagnosed with such pathologies is constantly growing. The reasons for this phenomenon are very different - malnutrition, unfavorable environmental conditions in the region of residence, bad habits, constant contact with toxic substances, weakened immunity, and so on.
Speaking in general, the appearance of any neoplasms is a consequence of pathological changes that have occurred in the cells under the influence of certain external factors. In fact, this is a kind of failure that occurred in the work of our body. At the same time, the differences between one type of neoplasm and another are of great interest. Of course, there are.
How is a benign tumor in our body different from a malignant one?
First of all, one point that is of great importance should be clarified here. First of all, benign and malignant tumors differ in the impact they have on the human body. In the first case, it is not so critical, with a much lower probability of death, but only if it is detected and treated in a timely manner.
For benign tumors local manifestation is characteristic. They cause discomfort mainly by squeezing nearby organs or tissues as they grow. At the same time, such tumors do not have a significant effect on the general condition of the body. IN 
in turn, malignant neoplasms simply grow into tissues or organs or throw their metastases there (if any). They seriously change the general condition of the patient - of course, for the worse.
However, the concept of good quality here is very relative. Such neoplasms are not as dangerous as malignant ones, but they can also have a destructive effect on the body. It is very important to identify such neoplasms as soon as possible. However, the main problem here is that at the initial stage, their development is almost asymptomatic. That is, people feel some slight discomfort, but do not attach any importance to it.
Malignant neoplasms are divided into the following types:
- sarcoma;
- carcinoma (cancer);
- glioma;
- teratoma;
- lymphoma;
- leukemia;
- melanoma.
They can appear almost anywhere in our body. For example, brain glioma, breast or lung cancer are currently quite common such pathologies. There are also several types of benign tumors. These are, in particular, lymphangioma, angioma, cyst, papilloma, neurofibromatosis, adenoma, myoma, fibroma. Like malignant ones, they can develop on almost any part of the body. Moreover, the initial stage of this process, as already noted, often proceeds almost asymptomatically.
The main features of benign tumors are the complete absence of metastases, and local effects. In addition, after treatment, they never give a relapse. The cells of such tumors are completely identical to the tissue cells from which they actually developed. Such neoplasms grow expansively - not as rapidly as malignant ones. The neoplasm gradually increases in size, pushing or squeezing nearby tissues or organs.
Malignant tumors are characterized by infiltrating growth. That is, they develop quite quickly. The neoplasm not only penetrates into nearby organs and tissues, but also grows into the nerve endings and vessels, merging with them. In addition, these neoplasms are capable of metastasizing. These are cells detached from the tumor. They enter the bloodstream, and thanks to it they penetrate into different organs and tissues - not necessarily located nearby. A secondary tumor begins to grow from these cells. After treatment of such neoplasms, relapses of the disease often appear. They also have a destructive effect on the general health of the patient, causing cachexia and intoxication of the body. Cells of malignant neoplasms are atypical and polymorphic. Because of this, it is impossible to determine from which tissue they developed.
It should be noted that it is often very difficult to determine what kind of tumor develops in the body - malignant or benign. Sometimes there is almost no difference between them. Therefore, in order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to take into account a number of important factors - the location of the neoplasm, the speed of its development, and so on. In addition, in the absence of timely medical intervention, a benign tumor can eventually turn into a malignant one, with all the serious consequences that follow from this.
That is why it is very important to see a doctor even if you have symptoms that cause minor discomfort. It is possible that these are just the first alarms that allow you to recognize the pathology at an early stage. By the way, due to the lack of pronounced symptoms, tumors are often discovered quite by accident, for example, the patient goes to the doctor with complaints of stomach discomfort. During the examination, neoplasms such as adenoma may well be detected in him. Sometimes there are also situations when benign and malignant cells coexist in one tumor. There is a high risk of misdiagnosis here, since it all depends on where exactly the biopsy is performed.
Everyone is afraid to hear. And if earlier such malignant processes were found only in the elderly, today such a pathology often affects young people up to 30 years of age.
Is a malignant tumor cancer or not?
The formation of malignant origin is the uncontrolled reproduction and growth of abnormal cells that contribute to the destruction of healthy tissues. Malignant tumors are dangerous for general health, and in some cases pose a threat to life, because they metastasize to distant organs and are capable of invading nearby tissues.
Not all malignant oncology is cancer, although many people unknowingly believe so. In fact, cancer is considered to be carcinoma - the formation of epithelial cells.
How is it different from a benign tumor?
Distinctive features of oncology of a benign nature is the fact that such a tumor is located in a kind of capsule that separates and protects the surrounding tissues from the tumor.
The malignant nature of the tumor gives it the ability to grow into neighboring tissues, bringing severe pain and destruction, metastasizing throughout the body.
Abnormal cells divide easily and spread through the body through the bloodstream, stopping in different organs and forming a new tumor there, identical to the first one. Such neoplasms are called metastases.
Kinds
Poor-quality formations are divided into several varieties:
- carcinoma or cancer. It is diagnosed in more than 80% of cases of such oncology. Education is formed more often in, or,. A similar tumor is formed from epithelial cells. Appearance varies according to location. In general, they are a node with a bumpy or smooth surface, hard or soft structure;
- . It grows from the cells of muscle and bone connective tissue. It is quite rare (1% of all malignant oncologies) and can be located on, joints, in the lungs, etc. Such a tumor is characterized by rapid growth and metastasis. Often, even with early diagnosis and removal, it recurs again;
- . Formed from lymphatic tissues. Such neoplasms lead to violations of organic functions, since the lymphatic system, designed to protect the body from infectious lesions, in the presence of a tumor cannot perform its main tasks;
- . It is formed in the brain, growing from glial nervous system cells. Usually accompanied by severe headache and dizziness. In general, the manifestations of such a tumor depend on its localization in the brain;
- . It grows from melanocytes and is localized mainly on the skin of the face and neck, extremities. It is rare (about 1% of all malignant tumors), characterized by a tendency to early metastasis;
- . It grows from stem cells in the bone marrow. Basically, leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming cells;
- . Consists of embryonic cells, formed even in the prenatal period under the influence of pathogenic factors. Most often localized in the testicles, ovaries, brain and sacrum;
- . It develops from placental tissues. It is found only in women, mainly in the uterus, tubes, ovaries, etc.;
- Malignant tumors that form in children under 5 years of age. This includes various tumors like, or, or leukemia.
Causes
The main predisposing factor to the formation of tumors of a malignant nature is heredity. If several cancer patients are found in the family, then all household members can be registered.
Equally important is the presence. Unfortunately, even a photo of cancerous lungs posted on a pack of cigarettes does not repel smokers from this addiction. Tobacco smoking most often leads to the development of lung or stomach cancer.
Alcohol dependence is no less dangerous, since against the background of such abuse, malignant oncology can also develop. Most often, toxic products of alcohol breakdown cause cancer of the larynx, stomach, liver, mouth, pancreas, esophagus, intestine or breast.
In general, experts distinguish only three groups of factors predisposing to the development of cancer:
- Biological- this group includes various viruses;
- Chemical- this includes carcinogens and toxic substances;
- Physical- represent a group of factors including UV radiation, radiation exposure, etc.
All of the above factors are external. Experts refer to genetic predisposition as internal factors.
In general, the mechanism of cancer development is quite simple. Our cells live for a certain time, after which they are programmed to die, and they are replaced by new ones. So the body is constantly updated. For example, red cells in the blood (or erythrocytes) live for about 125 days, and platelets - only 4 days. This is a physiological norm.
But in the presence of pathogenetic factors, various failures occur and obsolete cells, instead of death, begin to multiply on their own, producing abnormal offspring, from which tumor formations are formed.
How to determine a malignant neoplasm?
To determine the malignant tumor process, it is necessary to have an idea about its symptoms. So, malignant oncology is characterized by the following main features:
- Pain. It can appear at the beginning of the tumor process or occurs with its further development. Often disturbed by pain in the bone tissue, and there is a tendency to fracture;
- Signs of weakness and chronic fatigue. Such symptoms occur gradually and are accompanied by a lack of appetite, hyper sweating, sudden weight loss, anemia;
- Fever state. A similar symptom often indicates a systemic spread of the cancer process. Malignant oncology affects the immune system, which begins to fight hostile cells, which is why the state of fever appears;
- If the tumor does not develop inside the body, but close to the surface, then palpable swelling or induration may be found;
In the photo you can see a seal on the skin, this is what a malignant tumor looks like - basalioma
- Against the background of a malignant tumor may develop a tendency to bleed. With stomach cancer - this is bloody vomiting, with colon cancer - feces with blood, with uterine cancer - bloody vaginal discharge, with prostate cancer - semen with blood, with bladder cancer - bloody urine, etc.;
- Against the background of a malignant tumor process lymph nodes are enlarged, neurological symptoms appear, the patient is often exposed to various inflammations, any rashes on the skin or jaundice, sores, etc. may appear.
The general symptomatology increases gradually, supplemented by new signs, the condition gradually worsens, which is associated with toxic damage to the body by the products of tumor vital activity.
Ways of metastasis
Malignant tumors tend to spread to other organs, i.e. to metastasize. Usually the stage of metastasis occurs already in the later stages of the tumor process. In general, metastasis occurs in 3 ways: hematogenous, lymphogenous or mixed.
- Hematogenous way - the spread of the cancer process through the bloodstream, when tumor cells enter the vascular system and are transferred to other organs. Such metastasis is typical for sarcomas, chorionepitheliomas, hypernephromas, lymphomas and tumors of the hematopoietic tissue;
- Lymphogenic the path involves metastasis of tumor cells through the lymph flow through the lymph nodes and further to nearby tissues. This path of spread of metastases is typical for internal tumors such as cancer of the uterus, intestines, stomach, esophagus, etc.
- Mixed the path suggests lymphogenous-hematogenous metastasis. Such a spread of the tumor process is characteristic of most malignant oncologies (cancer of the breast, lung, thyroid gland, ovaries or bronchi).
Stages of development
When diagnosing, not only the type of malignant formation is determined, but also the stage of its development. There are 4 stages in total:
- Stage I is characterized by a small size of the tumor, the absence of germination of the tumor in neighboring tissues. The tumor process does not capture the lymph nodes;
- Stage II of a malignant tumor process is characterized by a clear definition of the tumor within its initial localization, although there may be single metastases in the lymph nodes of regional significance;
- Stage III is characterized by the germination of the tumor in the tissues lying around it. Metastasis in regional lymph nodes becomes multiple;
- At stage IV, metastasis spreads not only to the lymph nodes, but also to distant organs.
Diagnostic methods
Diagnosis of oncology of a malignant nature consists in the following procedures:
Medicinal, radiation and surgical
