What term is used to refer to noncancerous lesions?

The term "benign" is used to describe noncancerous lesions. These lesions have distinct characteristics; they do not invade surrounding tissues, do not spread to distant sites in the body, and typically pose little to no threat to a person's health compared to malignant lesions. Benign lesions may still require monitoring or intervention if they cause discomfort or aesthetic concerns, but they are not associated with cancer.

In contrast, malignant refers specifically to cancerous lesions that can invade nearby tissues and metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body, presenting a significant health risk. Carcinogenic describes agents or substances that can induce cancer, while pre-cancerous refers to a condition where changes occur in cells that may lead to cancer but are not yet cancerous in nature. Each of these terms highlights different aspects of pathology but does not apply to noncancerous conditions, making benign the appropriate choice to describe noncancerous lesions.