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Imaging. Section 1T
Reading Comprehension
Cancers of the brain are the consequence of abnormal growths of cells in the brain. Brain
cancers can arise from primary brain cells, the cells that form other brain components (for
example, membranes, blood vessels), or from the growth of cancer cells that develop in
other organs and that have spread to the brain by the bloodstream (metastatic or secondary
brain cancer).
Although many growths in the brain are popularly called brain tumors, not all brain tumors
are cancerous. A tumor is simply a mass of cells. A benign tumor is composed of cells
which are not cancerous. A malignant tumor is comprised of cancer cells. Cancer is a term
reserved for malignant tumors. Malignant tumors are composed of aggressively growing,
abnormal-appearing cells referred to as cancer cells.
Malignant tumors grow and spread aggressively, invading and spreading into areas of
healthy tissue, and then overpowering them by taking their space, blood, and nutrients. Like
all cells of the body, tumor cells need blood and nutrients to survive. This is especially a
problem in the brain, as the expanding mass caused by added growth within the closed
confines of the skull can lead to an increase in pressure within the space inside the skull
(intracranial pressure) or the distortion of areas of the brain, causing them to fail to work
properly. Both malignant and benign brain tumors can cause the problem of increased
intracranial pressure and its consequences. Malignant brain tumors usually cause such
problems more aggressively and quickly than do benign brain tumors.
Almost all tumors that begin in the brain do not spread to other parts of the body. Another
major difference between benign and malignant tumors is that while malignant tumors can
invade the brain tissues and grow rapidly, benign tumors usually push on, rather than
invade, adjacent tissues.
In general, a benign tumor is less serious than a malignant tumor. However, a benign tumor
can still cause many problems in the brain, but usually the problems progress at a slower
rate than malignant tumors.
ESPAÑOL
Compresión lectora
En general, un tumor benigno es de menor gravedad que un tumor maligno. Sin embargo
un tumor benigno puede ocasionar muchos problemas en el cerebro, pero usualmente los
problemas progresan a un ritmo más lento que los tumores malignos.