Qualitative Concept
benign Audio
be·nign [ bih-nahyn ]
Definitions related to benign:
  • For neoplasms, a non-infiltrating and non-metastasizing neoplastic process that is characterized by the absence of morphologic features associated with malignancy (e.g., severe atypia, nuclear pleomorphism, tumor cell necrosis, and abnormal mitoses). For other conditions, a process that is mild in nature and not dangerous to health.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Harmless; often used to refer to a tumor that is not cancerous and does not usually spread.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • Not cancerous. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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