Tumor

Definition

A tumor is a growth of tissue that forms an abnormal mass. Tumors generally provide no useful function and grow at the expense of healthy tissues.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

In general, tumors appear to be caused by abnormal regulation of cell division. Typically, the division of cells in the body is strictly controlled -- new cells are created to replace older ones or to perform new functions. Cells that are damaged or no longer needed die to make room for healthy replacements.

If the balance of cell division and death is disturbed, a tumor may form. Tumors are classified as either benign (slow-growing and often harmless depending on the location) or malignant (faster-growing and likely to spread to other parts of the body and cause problems). Malignant tumors are what we call cancer.

Abnormalities of the immune system, which usually detects and blocks aberrant growth, can lead to tumors. Other causes include tobacco, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption, radiation, genetic abnormalities, excessive sunlight exposure, benzene, and a number of other chemicals and toxins.

Tobacco causes more deaths from cancer than any other environmental agent.

Some tumors are more common in one sex than the other, some are more common among children or the elderly, and some vary with diet, environment, and genetic risk factors.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example, lung tumors may cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain, while tumors of the colon can cause weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, iron deficiency anemia, and blood in the stool. Some tumors produce no symptoms, but symptoms that often accompany tumors include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Malaise

Signs and tests

Like the symptoms, the signs of tumors vary based on their site and type. When a tumor is found, a biopsy is performed to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant. Depending on the location of the tumor, the biopsy may be a simple procedure or a serious operation. Most patients with tumors undergo CT scans or MRI to determine the exact location of the tumor and its extent. More recently, positron emission tomography (PET) scans have been used to visualize certain tumors types.

Common tests to most patients with tumors include:

• CT scan
• MRI
• PET scan
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Blood chemistries
• Biopsy of the tumor
• Bone marrow biopsy (most often for lymphoma or leukemia)
• Chest x-ray

Treatment

Treatment also varies based on the type of tumor, whether it is benign or malignant, and its location. If the tumor is benign (meaning it has no potential to spread) and is located in a "safe" area where it will not cause symptoms or disturb the proper functioning of the organ, sometimes no treatment is needed. Sometimes benign tumors may be removed for cosmetic reasons, however. Benign tumors of the brain may be removed because of their location or harmful effect on the surrounding normal brain tissue.

If a tumor is malignant, treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods.

If the cancer is confined to one location, the goal of treatment is usually surgical removal of the tumor and cure. If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can also be removed. If all of the cancer cannot be removed with surgery, the options for treatment include radiation and chemotherapy, or both. Some patients require a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

In contrast, lymphoma is rarely treated with surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are most often used for treating lymphoma.

Support Groups

The diagnosis of cancer often causes a lot of anxiety and can affect one's entire life. There are numerous resources for cancer patients, see cancer resources.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outlook varies widely among different types of tumor. If the tumor is benign, the prognosis is generally very good. However, there are some instances where a benign tumor can cause significant problems, for instance, in the brain.

If the tumor is malignant, the outcome varies depending on the stage of the tumor at diagnosis. Some cancers can be cured. Some that are not curable can still be treated and patients can live for many years with the cancer. Still other tumors are rapidly fatal.

Complications

Complications can occur if a tumor is located in a region of the body where it compromises the function of the normal organ. If the tumor is malignant, it can also cause complications if it spreads or metastasizes.

Calling your health care provider

Call your healthcare provider if you notice any suspicious lumps or bumps on your body or if you notice a new or changing mole on your skin.

Prevention

The risk of malignant tummors (cancer) can be reduced by not smoking or chewing tobacco, avoiding heavy alcohol consumption, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing sun exposure if you burn easily, and minimizing exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals.

Page Content:

Mass; Neoplasm ; neoplasm; malignant neoplasm; follicular neoplasm; benign neoplasm; ovarian neoplasm; definition of neoplasm; hurthle cell neoplasm; spindle cell neoplasm; cause of malignant neoplasm; intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm; nonmalignant neoplasm; cystic neoplasm; kidney neoplasm; adrenal neoplasm; pulmonary neoplasm; breast neoplasm; mucinous cystic neoplasm; lung neoplasm; malignant neoplasm prostate; brain neoplasm; cystic ovarian neoplasm; thyroid neoplasm; follicular neoplasm of the thyroid; body mass index; mass murder; mass; mass mutual; mass transit; devil in mass midnight; employee mass pay severance; mass state lottery; weapon of mass destruction; billy devil in mass midnight talent; mass plastic; mass general hospital; critical mass; mass rmv; mass media; body mass index calculator; mass government; mass times; mass pike; mass dor; mass health; mass communication; muscle mass; pan mass; chamber of commerce gloucester mass; body mass index chart; salem mass; mass air flow sensor; mass doe; cell mass; live entertainment listing for boston mass; catholic mass; mass dmv; map of mass; mass effect; atomic mass; mass state police; devil in lyric mass midnight; mass nutrition; body mass; mass registry of motor vehicle; mass production; springfield mass; mass spectrometry; commonwealth of mass; fitness gaining body mass; mass lottery.com; mass lottery result; mass murderer; university of mass; gain muscle mass; mass general; iraq weapon of mass destruction; chicago mass choir; mass destruction; mass email; little mass; air mass; mass lotto; mass mass mutual mutual; latin mass; mass connection; mass turnpike; mass electric; build muscle mass; mass mutual center; georgia mass choir; mass unemployment; black mass; plymouth mass; building muscle mass; worcester mass; mass extinction; mass hysteria; devil mass midnight; mass eye and ear; mass card; mass department of education; cape cod mass; mass maritime; lowell mass; daily mass reading; timo mass; body mass calculator; mass state; era the mass; mass dept of revenue; mass health insurance; mass flow meter; mass housing; mass real estate; mass spectroscopy; molar mass; mass spectrometer; calculate body mass index; mass highway; mass appeal; mass land record; catholic mass times; blue cross blue shield of mass