What characteristic is associated with benign tumors compared to malignant tumors?

The characteristic associated with benign tumors, in contrast to malignant tumors, is that they are non-spreading. Benign tumors typically do not invade surrounding tissues or metastasize to distant parts of the body, which distinguishes them from malignant tumors that have the ability to spread and invade other tissues, leading to more severe health issues. This absence of invasion into local structures and distant sites is a defining feature of benign tumors, making them generally less threatening than malignant ones.

In addition, benign tumors usually grow more slowly than malignant tumors and are often encapsulated, which means they remain localized. This encapsulation helps to prevent the aggressive behavior seen in malignant tumors, which can infiltrate and destroy surrounding healthy tissues. Overall, the non-spreading nature of benign tumors is a crucial aspect of understanding how different tumor types behave and their implications for treatment and prognosis.