Final answer:
Benign tumors have a low mitotic index, organized tissue structure, well-defined boundaries, and well-differentiated cells, while malignant tumors have a high mitotic index, disorganized tissue structure, poorly-defined boundaries, and poorly-differentiated cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Benign tumors differ from malignant tumors in several ways:
- Mitotic index: Benign tumors have a low mitotic index, meaning that the rate of cell division is relatively low. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, have a high mitotic index, indicating rapid cell division.
- Tissue organization: Benign tumors are well-organized and have a similar structure to the surrounding normal tissue. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, have disorganized and irregular tissue organization.
- Tumor boundaries: Benign tumors have well-defined boundaries and tend to grow locally without invading surrounding tissues. Malignant tumors, in contrast, have poorly-defined boundaries and can invade and destroy nearby tissues.
- Cellular differentiation: Benign tumors often have well-differentiated cells that closely resemble normal cells in the tissue. Malignant tumors, however, have poorly-differentiated cells that look different from normal cells and may be more aggressive in behavior.