Daganat

Daganat is a term used in several languages, including Swedish and Hungarian, to refer to a tumor or any abnormal mass of tissue that results from uncontrolled cell growth. Tumors can be benign, meaning they are non-cancerous and usually grow slowly without spreading, or malignant, meaning they are cancerous and may invade nearby tissues or spread to distant sites (metastasis).

Most tumors are classified by their tissue of origin: carcinomas arise from epithelial cells; sarcomas from connective tissues; lymphomas from immune system cells; leukemias from blood-forming tissues; gliomas from glial cells in the brain; adenomas from glands, and so on. Benign examples include lipomas and fibromas; malignant examples include carcinomas, sarcomas, and melanoma.

Causes often involve genetic mutations acquired during a person’s life, inherited cancer predisposition syndromes, and environmental factors such as tobacco use, radiation, UV exposure, or infections with oncogenic viruses (for example HPV, hepatitis B and C, or Helicobacter pylori in certain stomach cancers). In many cases, the exact cause is unknown.

Diagnosis combines physical examination with imaging studies (ultrasound, X-ray, CT, MRI) and tissue sampling (biopsy) for histopathological analysis to determine type, grade, and stage.

Treatment depends on tumor type, location, size, and stage, and may include surgery to remove the tumor, radiation therapy, and systemic treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Some benign tumors may be monitored or treated conservatively if they cause symptoms.

Prognosis varies widely. Early detection and appropriate treatment improve outcomes. Prevention focuses on reducing risk factors, vaccination against oncogenic infections, and population-based screening programs where available.