Detailed Guide About the Types of Tumors

Tumors are abnormal masses of cells in the body. Tumors cause cell division at an alarming pace or, in other cases, let the cells live beyond their normal life span. Tumors are often commonly associated with cancer, but, in reality, most tumors are not even cancerous. It’s just cell division gone awry.

Tumors can be classified by the types of cells they contain, such as:

• Benign. This tumor is not cancerous.

• Precancerous or premalignant. Contains cells that may mutate into cancer cells.

• Malignant tumor. This tumor entirely consists of cancer cells.

In the following sections, we will be exploring the different types of tumors in detail, and highlight their causes and the potential risks associated with each of them. 

Benign tumors

A benign tumor isn’t cancerous. It won’t spread to other tissues or invade the surrounding tissues. The growth of this tumor near the vital organs, presses on the nerves and restricts the blood flow, which can cause serious problems. Benign tumor treatment is usually successful.

A benign tumor can be one of the following types:

The adenomas

Polyps, or adenomas, develop in gland-like cells in the epithelial tissues—a thin layer of tissue that covers glands, organs, and other structures in the body.

Each tumor is treated differently based on its size and location. Colon polyps can become malignant if they are not removed immediately. Therefore, in order to prevent the cancer from spreading, it is best to get a full-body scan immediately after you feel any cancer symptoms.

Some cancers develop years after exposure to a cancer-causing agent. The prime example of this type of cancer is mesothelioma, which is caused due to asbestos exposure.

Workers in construction, shipyards, or marines in the army are the most commonly asbestos-exposed professionals, who develop mesothelioma later on in life. During a mesothelioma lawsuit, it’s necessary for the defendant to produce evidence of an observed adenomas growing inside their epithelial tissue.

Hemangiomas

Extra blood vessels make up hemangiomas, a kind of tumor. This tumor most commonly afflicts children, and develops in their liver and on their skin.

At first glance, a hemangioma may appear to be just a red birthmark. As time passes, a red lump will start to develop. Despite the need for monitoring, hemangiomas usually aren’t much harmful, and the tumor tends to disappear by itself.

The fibroids

Fibrous tissue is prone to fibroids. Women age 50 and over are more likely to suffer from uterine fibroids. However, treatment is not necessary. They can be surgically removed if they get painful or cause issues.

Lipomas

Lipoma is a slow-forming tumor that grows under the skin in fatty tissue. The tumor can occur anywhere, but they are most likely to occur on the shoulders, neck, underarms, or trunk. The majority of cases occur in population segments of ages 40 to 60. In most cases, however, they don’t need to be treated, but if they become bothersome, you can have them surgically removed.

Premalignant tumors

Benign tumors don’t necessarily become malignant. That said, however, some do become cancerous in the presence of an uncontrollable cell division.

Premalignant tumors may exhibit some of these characteristics:

• Metaplasia. These cells seem normal, but they exist in areas of the body where they aren’t supposed to be present.

• Atypia. A slight abnormality in the cells.

• Hyperplasia. The cells look normal, structurally, but they multiply more rapidly than they should.

Since it is difficult to predict whether a tumor will progress, it is important to carefully monitor or treat the following kinds of masses:

• In situ carcinoma. Despite being extremely abnormal, the cells have not yet invaded nearby tissues. Cancer at this stage is called “stage 0.”.

• Dysplasia. The cells are multiplying extraordinarily and are not arranged in a normal way.

A colon polyp, for example, can be precancerous. Despite the fact that cancer can develop over a period of 10 or more years, they are often removed as a precaution.

Malignant tumors

Cancerous tumors are malignant. The body produces new cells constantly to replace old ones. In some cases, the process damages the DNA, resulting in abnormal cell development. Rather than dying off, they multiply too quickly, compromising the immune system, and making way for tumors to develop unhindered.

Often, cancer cells are able to escape tumors and spread to other parts of the body. There are several types of malignant tumors, including:

Carcinoma

Carcinomas develop in epithelial cells, and they are the most common types of cancer. Some examples are:

• The basal cell carcinoma starts in the epidermis’s lowest layer.

• Fluids and mucus are produced by cells that form adenocarcinomas. Examples include cancers of the breast, prostate, and colon.

• Epithelium or urothelium is the tissue in which transitional cell carcinoma occurs. This type of cancer can affect the bladder, ureter, and kidney.

• In organs such as the kidneys, bladder, stomach, or intestines, squamous cell carcinoma forms in skin cells.

Sarcoma

Sarcomas develop in soft tissues, bones, and fibrous tissues. Some examples are:

• Ligaments

• Lymphatic vessels and blood vessels

• Fat

• Tendons

• muscle

Germ cell

Tumors of the germ cells begin in cells that produce eggs or sperm. Ovaries and testicles are the likeliest sites for such tumors. However, they can also appear in the chest, abdomen, or brain.

Blastoma

Brain, eye, and nerve-stem blastomas arise from developing cells in embryonic tissue. Children are more likely to develop these tumors than adults.

Methods for diagnosing tumors

Whenever you find an unusual lump on your body, make an appointment to see your doctor right away. Tumors are not always obvious, and a routine checkup, screening, or test for some disease or the other does, more often than not, unsuspectingly lead to a cancer diagnosis in a patient.

To help confirm the diagnosis, the doctor might ask you to go under one or more of the following imaging tests:

• Radiography

• CT scan

• MRI

• Ultrasound

Another common method for diagnosing cancer is getting a blood test.

Having said that, only a biopsy can provide conclusive evidence to make a cancer diagnosis. Biopsies involve the removal of tissue samples. A needle biopsy or another such method, such as surgery or colonoscopy, may be necessary depending on the location of the tumor in the body.

The tissue will be sent to a lab and examined under a microscope. Your doctor will receive a pathology report. This report will tell your doctor whether the tissue that was removed is benign, precancerous, or malignant.

Final Thoughts

Tumors are masses of abnormal cells. Benign tumors, in many cases, can be left alone. Cancerous tumors, however, can be life-threatening. Malignant tumors are terminal. Tumors, whether benign or malignant, can be treated differently based on their specific characteristics. As soon as you notice a lump anywhere on your body, you should check with your doctor immediately. Early diagnosis increases your chances for successfully treating the cancer.