What’s a benign adenoma?

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Benign adenomas are noncancerous tumors that can affect various glands in the body, including the adrenal gland, colon, thyroid gland, and pituitary gland. Treatment varies, but surgical removal is common. Adrenal adenomas can be treated with medication, but most are surgically removed. Colon adenomas are almost always removed as they can become cancerous. Pituitary gland adenomas may be controlled with medication if surgery is not safe. Thyroid adenomas may require a biopsy to differentiate from cancerous growth and can be treated with medication.

A benign adenoma is a noncancerous tumor that can affect any of various glands in the body. Some of the more common glands affected include the adrenal gland, colon, and thyroid gland. Treatment varies depending on the specific situation, although surgical removal of the tumor is the most common method of treatment. Any questions or concerns about the types of benign adenoma or methods of treatment should be discussed with a doctor.

An adrenal adenoma is perhaps the most common type of benign adenoma. This type of adenoma is considered a functional adenoma if it produces hormones, and it is considered nonfunctional if it cannot produce or affect hormones. Medications can be used to treat an adrenal adenoma, although most tumors of this type are surgically removed if possible.

The colon is another potential site for a benign adenoma. This type of adenoma is sometimes referred to as a benign polyp. Because there is a small chance that a polyp in the colon could become cancerous, it is almost always removed as soon as it is detected. This type of tumor tends to take several years to develop into a problem tumor and can take up to a decade to become cancerous. Colon adenomas are particularly common in those over the age of 50, so periodic testing is often recommended from this age.

The pituitary gland is another common site for a benign adenoma. The pituitary gland is responsible for most of the hormone production in the human body. Most pituitary gland adenomas grow very slowly and may not cause any symptoms until they are large enough. Due to the location of the pituitary gland, it may not always be safe to remove the adenoma surgically. In these cases, prescription drugs are used to try and control the growth of the tumor and any associated symptoms.

A benign adenoma can also develop in the thyroid gland. This type of tumor can be difficult to differentiate from a cancerous growth without the use of a medical procedure known as a biopsy. In this procedure, a small tissue sample is taken from the adenoma and sent to a laboratory for further testing. Treatment for a thyroid adenoma isn’t always necessary, although medications are often used to treat this condition.




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