Godartet

Godartet is an adjective used in Danish and Norwegian medical terminology to describe a lesion, growth, or tumor that is not cancerous and does not invade surrounding tissue. The English equivalent is benign or non-malignant. The term appears in clinical reports, radiology notes, and pathology descriptions to distinguish non-cancerous conditions from malignant ones.

In medical usage, godartet is contrasted with ondartet, the Danish term for malignant or cancerous. Examples include a godartet svulst (benign tumor) and godartede ændringer (benign changes). A growth may be considered godartet when imaging and histological examination suggest non-cancerous behavior, though a biopsy or follow-up can be required to confirm the assessment.

Etymologically, godartet combines god (good) with artet, a form related to art or kind in the sense of a type or character, with the definite suffix -et in Danish. The term is standard in medical contexts in Danish and Norwegian; Swedish uses godartad in a closely related form.

Usage notes emphasize that labeling a lesion as godartet indicates non-malignant potential rather than absence of all risk. Benign conditions can still cause symptoms or require treatment or monitoring for physical, cosmetic, or functional reasons. It is not an absolute guarantee against future problems.

See also: benign tumor, malignant tumor, oncology, pathology.