Benign vs Malignant Tumours

• Malignant tumours are cancerous, whilst benign tumours aren't cancerous.
• Both benign and malignant tumours can grow to a large size.
• Benign tumours grow very slowly, whilst malignant tumours grow rapidly.
• Benign tumours have a cell nucleus that has a relatively normal appearance, whilst malignant tumours have a cell nucleus that is often larger and darker due to an abundance of DNA.
• Benign tumours contain cells which are highly specialised, whilst malignant tumours contain cells which become unspecialised.
• In benign tumours, cells produce adhesion molecules that make them stick together and remain in the tissue they arose in (i.e. they remain primary tumours). However, malignant tumour cells do not produce adhesion molecules, so tend to spread to other regions of the body in metastasis, forming secondary tumours.
• Benign tumours are surrounded by a capsule of dense tissue, so remain a compact structure. However, malignant tumours do not posses a capsule, so can grow finger-like projections into the surrounding tissue.
• Benign tumours are much less likely to be life-threatening, but can disrupt functioning of organs. Malignant tumours are much more likely to be life-threatening, since abnormal tumour tissue replaces normal tissue.
• Benign tumours tend to have localised effects on the body, whilst malignant tumours often have systemic effects such as weight loss and fatigue.
• Benign tumours can usually be removed entirely with surgery, whilst malignant tumours frequently require radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy as well.
• Benign tumours rarely reoccur after treatment, whilst malignant tumours can more frequently reoccur after treatment.