Alveolar cell tumor is not clinically available, only alveolar cell carcinoma. It is a malignant tumor originating from the bronchial mucosa epithelium.
Alveolar cell carcinoma has a relatively low incidence and is more common, especially in women. The tumor is highly differentiated but grows slowly. It mainly presents with an irritating dry cough as the main symptom, while it can cause chest tightness, fever, coughing sputum, and other symptoms similar to inflammatory infection. The cancer cells will not invade the alveolar septum, but will grow sequentially along the fine bronchi, alveolar ducts, and alveolar walls, which is its main characteristic phenomenon.
Lymphatic and hematogenous metastases are rare in the early stages of lung cell carcinoma, and most of them can spread to other lung lobes and pleura via the lung.
Alveolar cell carcinoma has two types of tumor occupancy on CT scans: nodular and diffuse, with a single nodule or multiple nodules, and diffuse, with characteristic pneumonia-like changes.
Surgical resection is possible for nodular tumors, and most have a better outcome after surgery because the lesions are more limited and easily resected; for diffuse alveolar carcinoma, chemotherapy can be administered.