A tumor was removed and described as non-malignant. Which term best describes this tumor?

A tumor was removed and described as non-malignant. Which term best describes this tumor?

• A. Malignant
• B. Benign
• C. Metastatic
• D. Invasive

Answer: (B)

When a tumor is described as non-malignant, the idea is that it is not cancerous and tends to stay localized. The term that fits this behavior is benign. Benign tumors are usually well contained, often encapsulated, and do not invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. In contrast, malignant describes cancerous growths that can invade nearby tissues and metastasize to other areas, which is why those terms wouldn’t describe a non-malignant tumor. Invasive refers to the ability to invade adjacent tissues, a hallmark of malignant growths, not a non-malignant one. So, the best term is benign.

When a tumor is described as non-malignant, the idea is that it is not cancerous and tends to stay localized. The term that fits this behavior is benign. Benign tumors are usually well contained, often encapsulated, and do not invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. In contrast, malignant describes cancerous growths that can invade nearby tissues and metastasize to other areas, which is why those terms wouldn’t describe a non-malignant tumor. Invasive refers to the ability to invade adjacent tissues, a hallmark of malignant growths, not a non-malignant one. So, the best term is benign.