A tumor is an abnormal growth of cells that serves no purpose. A benign tumor is not a malignant tumor, which is cancer. It does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body the way cancer can. In most cases, the outlook with benign tumors is very good. But benign tumors can be serious if they press on vital structures such as blood vessels or nerves. Therefore, sometimes they require treatment and other times they do not.
Causes of Benign Tumors
What causes a benign tumor to form? Often the cause is unknown. But the growth of a benign tumor might be linked to:
Environmental toxins, such as exposure to radiation