Patient Education - Endocrine Encyclopedia
Endocrine Surgery Encyclopedia
Definition:
A tumor is a growth of tissue that forms an abnormal mass. Tumors generally provide
no useful function and grow at the expense of healthy tissues.
Alternative Names: Mass; Neoplasm
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
In general, tumors appear to be caused by abnormal regulation of cell division. Typically,
the division of cells in the body is strictly controlled -- new cells are created
to replace older ones or to perform new functions. Cells that are damaged or no longer
needed die to make room for healthy replacements.
If the balance of cell division and death is disturbed, a tumor may form. Tumors
are classified as either benign (slow-growing and often harmless depending on the
location) or malignant (faster-growing and likely to spread to other parts of the
body and cause problems). Malignant tumors are what we call cancer.
Abnormalities of the immune system, which usually detects and blocks aberrant
growth, can lead to tumors. Other causes include tobacco, obesity, sedentary lifestyle,
excessive alcohol consumption, radiation, genetic abnormalities, excessive sunlight
exposure, benzene, and a number of other chemicals and toxins.
Tobacco causes more deaths from cancer than any other environmental agent.
Some tumors are more common in one sex than the other, some are more common among
children or the elderly, and some vary with diet, environment, and genetic risk factors.
Symptoms:
Symptoms depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example, lung tumors may
cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain, while tumors of the colon can
cause weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, iron deficiency anemia, and blood in the
stool. Some tumors produce no symptoms, but symptoms that often accompany tumors
include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Malaise
Signs and tests:
Like the symptoms, the signs of tumors vary based on their site and type. When a
tumor is found, a biopsy is performed to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant.
Depending on the location of the tumor, the biopsy may be a simple procedure or a
serious operation. Most patients with tumors undergo CT scans or MRI to determine
the exact location of the tumor and its extent. More recently, positron emission
tomography (PET) scans have been used to visualize certain tumors types.
Common tests to most patients with tumors include:
- CT scan
- MRI
- PET scan
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Blood chemistries
- Biopsy of the tumor
- Bone marrow biopsy (most often for lymphoma or leukemia)
- Chest x-ray
Treatment:
Treatment also varies based on the type of tumor, whether it is benign or malignant,
and its location. If the tumor is benign (meaning it has no potential to spread)
and is located in a "safe" area where it will not cause symptoms or disturb
the proper functioning of the organ, sometimes no treatment is needed. Sometimes
benign tumors may be removed for cosmetic reasons, however. Benign tumors of the
brain may be removed because of their location or harmful effect on the surrounding
normal brain tissue.
If a tumor is malignant, treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy,
or a combination of these methods.
If the cancer is confined to one location, the goal of treatment is usually surgical
removal of the tumor and cure. If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only,
sometimes these can also be removed. If all of the cancer cannot be removed with
surgery, the options for treatment include radiation and chemotherapy, or both. Some
patients require a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
In contrast, lymphoma is rarely treated with surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation
therapy are most often used for treating lymphoma.
Support Groups:
The diagnosis of cancer often causes a lot of anxiety and can affect one's entire
life. There are numerous resources for cancer patients, see cancer resources.
Expectations (prognosis):
The outlook varies widely among different types of tumor. If the tumor is benign,
the prognosis is generally very good. However, there are some instances where a benign
tumor can cause significant problems, for instance, in the brain.
If the tumor is malignant, the outcome varies depending on the stage of the tumor
at diagnosis. Some cancers can be cured. Some that are not curable can still be treated
and patients can live for many years with the cancer. Still other tumors are rapidly
fatal.
Complications:
Complications can occur if a tumor is located in a region of the body where it compromises
the function of the normal organ. If the tumor is malignant, it can also cause complications
if it spreads or metastasizes.
Calling your health care provider:
Call your healthcare provider if you notice any suspicious lumps or bumps on your
body or if you notice a new or changing mole on your skin.
Prevention:
The risk of malignant tummors (cancer) can be reduced by not smoking or chewing tobacco,
avoiding heavy alcohol consumption, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly,
maintaining a healthy weight, reducing sun exposure if you burn easily, and minimizing
exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals.
Review Date: 8/16/2004
Reviewed By: Stephen Grund, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of Hematology & Oncology and Director
of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT.
Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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