Is a benign brain tumor safe?
NO. Any space occupying lesion in the brain (whether blood, tumor, abscess or something else) is dangerous because there is limited space inside the skull. Therefore, this meaning of the word benign is meaningless and misleading when applied to brain tumors. Brain tumors are often divided between benign and malignant tumors based on grade. Low grade tumors are considered benign, while high grade tumors are considered malignant. Generally, the term malignant includes grade III and IV astrocytomas, including glioblastoma multiforme, and grade III oligodendroglioma. In this division, benign tumors are slower growing and less intertwined with normal brain tissue than malignant tumors. Benign tumors often can be removed more completely and respond better to treatment than malignant tumors.
