Tumors can be benign or malignant, with malignant tumors spreading rapidly through metastasis. Diagnosis involves biopsies and classification systems such as TNM or WHO. Symptoms vary, and treatment depends on the type and location of the tumor. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may be used.
Tumors, also called neoplasms, are abnormal masses of tissue created by uncontrolled cell division that serve no physiological purpose. A tumor can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are self-contained, non-lethal, and grow more slowly than malignant ones. Malignant tumors are cancerous growths that spread rapidly and can metastasize or spread to other areas of the body.
Malignant tumors grow by invading nearby cells and spread to other parts of the body through a process called metastasis. The cells rupture the tumor, enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and spread to another area, infecting other tissue. This is how a cancer that starts in one part of the body, such as the breast or prostate, can spread to another type of tissue, such as bone.
If a suspicious tumor is present, it is common for a doctor to biopsy or cut a small sample of the tumor, which is then examined under a microscope. Cells in malignant tumors are different from normal cells in many ways. Normal cells are uniform in shape with a nucleus containing chromatin and a nucleolus containing RNA and DNA. Cancerous tumors have irregular cells with large irregular nucleoli and chromatin. Also, malignant cells do not stick together like normal cells and stain differently under a microscope.
The TNM classification system designed by the International Union Against Cancer attempts to classify malignant tumors based on how far they have spread in the body. The T represents the size of the tumor, the N represents all the lymph nodes that may be involved, and the M stands for the extent of the metastasis, or how far the cancer has spread throughout the body. This method is used, among others, for lung, colon and stomach cancers.
Brain and spinal cord tumors use a classification method ratified by the World Health Organization which is based on the premise that different types of malignant tumors of the nervous system are the result of the abnormal growth of specific cell types. In this system, the tumor is classified according to the type of cell it resembles. Once the tumor is classified, it is assigned a numerical classification that indicates the degree of malignancy. The more aggressive the tumor, the higher the number assigned.
Symptoms vary with the type and location of the mass, and some cancerous tumors have no symptoms until the disease has reached its most aggressive stage. Colon cancer symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, bleeding and anemia while lung cancer is accompanied by coughing, shortness of breath and chest pains. Fatigue, pain, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss are also symptoms of various malignancies. In addition to a biopsy, other diagnostic tools include blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
Treatment of cancerous tumors depends on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, and the degree of metastasis, among other factors. When possible, surgical removal is recommended to prevent further spread of the disease. If the cancer hasn’t spread, you may not need additional treatment. If the spread is limited to a few lymph nodes, these are also removed. Certain types of cancer or those that have spread to other areas of the body often require radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of both.
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