Tumor A 'Tumor' is technically any enlarged area of the body that is abnormal. The term tumor is usually used to refer to a neoplasm or a growth of abnormal tissue.
Tumors can be benign or malignant.
A benign tumor is one that may grow to very large proportions if left untreated yet will not spread to other parts of the body and should not kill the patient. Many benign tumors do not grow significantly and do not require any treatment at all. There are many other types of benign bone lesions and other causes of abnormalities seen on radiographs such as bone islands, bone infarcts and degenerative cysts that usually do not require surgery or a biopsy for treatment. Osteosarcoma and Ewing's occur mostly in adolescents and young adults while chondrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma occur in adults. Cure is possible and is more likely in patients without metastatic spread of disease and when the tumors are small and surgically resectible.