Common Skin Growths: Malignant or Benign? - Verywell Health
Common skin growths (medically coined skin neoplasm) can be: Malignant: A cancerous growth that can spread very quickly and invade nearby tissues Benign: A non-cancerous growth that usually grows very slowly and does not spread to other areas When a healthcare provider is consulted regarding a skin growth, the first step in the diagnostic procedure is a physical examination. The diagnostician must examine the skin closely to determine whether the growth is benign or if it has the potential to be malignant. If a growth appears to have the potential to be malignant, a tissue sample must be sent to the lab and a biopsy must be performed. A biopsy involves looking under a microscope to determine if cancerous cells are present in a tissue sample. Here is a closer look at common skin growths, both malignant and benign. tomczykbartek / Getty Images Malignant Skin Growths Malignant skin growths (neoplasms) are very com