growths

Growths is a broad, nontechnical term for enlargements or new formations of tissue that can occur in living organisms or plants. Growths may arise through normal development, response to injury, infection, inflammation, or disease, and they can be localized or diffuse. In humans and animals, growths range from harmless anatomical variations to conditions requiring medical attention.

In medical contexts, growths are often referred to as neoplasms or tumors when they involve abnormal cell growth. Neoplasms are commonly categorized by behavior as benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign growths, such as lipomas or fibromas, tend to grow slowly, are well circumscribed, and do not invade nearby tissues or spread to distant sites. Malignant growths, including carcinomas, sarcomas, melanomas, and various hematologic cancers, can invade surrounding tissue and metastasize. Other non-neoplastic enlargements include cysts, polyps, and abscesses, which may result from fluid accumulation, inflammatory processes, or infections. Hyperplasia refers to a controlled increase in the number of cells, while dysplasia indicates abnormal cellular development that may signal an increased risk of cancer.

Diagnosis typically involves physical examination and imaging techniques (such as ultrasound, X-ray, CT, or MRI), with biopsy or histopathological analysis used to determine tissue nature. Treatment depends on the cause and may range from observation or simple removal to complex cancer therapies (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) and targeted therapies. In plants, growths can include galls or tumor-like swellings caused by pests, pathogens, or environmental stress, often managed through pruning or removal of affected tissue.