Which term refers to a harmless tumor?

The term that refers to a harmless tumor is "benign." Benign tumors are non-cancerous growths that do not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body. This characteristic makes them generally less concerning than malignant tumors, which are cancerous and can pose serious health risks due to their aggressive nature.

Benign tumors may still require monitoring or removal depending on their size and location, but they typically do not lead to serious health complications. Understanding this distinction is crucial for health professionals, as it underscores the importance of tumor characterization in diagnosis and treatment planning.

In contrast, malignant tumors are characterized by their ability to invade surrounding tissues and metastasize, which makes them a significant concern in healthcare. Carcinogenic refers to substances or agents that can cause cancer, and pathological pertains to diseases or conditions, but these terms do not specifically describe tumor characteristics like benign does.