Question

what type of tumor may cause metastasis?

a. a benign tumor

b. a malignant tumor

c. a cancerous tumor

d. none of above answers apply

Answer 1

The Correct Answer is b. A Malignant Tumor

Metastasis generally means the proliferation or spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to other different neighbouring tissues or organs or also to some distant organs mainly through circulatory or lymphatic systems of the body.

First, the cancer cells loosen itself from the primary site and enters the circulatory or lymphatic system and then they circulate through the bloodstream and reach other parts or tissues of the body and finally invade the new site and proliferate there itself. The new site can be called as secondary tumor. This means these cells have the ability to proliferate from one site to another site.

Metastasis is what actually differentiate a benign tumor and a malignant tumor. Benign tumor doesn't possess the ability to metastasize and thus are not termed cancerous. Benign tumor generally forms a lump in definite region in the tissue.

Option c (cancerous tumor) is not appropriate because in actual medical terminology it is the malignant tumor.(whose cells are cancerous). It is not actually called cancerous tumor but termed cancer.