Alveolar cell carcinoma

Abstract

Symptoms of alveolar cell carcinoma, a lung cancer, usually tend to occur rather late due to the slow progression of the tumour. The tumour may remain localized for long periods, even for years. The incidence of symptoms increases with extension of the lesion. Productive cough, breathlessness, chest pain and weight loss are common complaints, occasionally patients may present with hemoptysis, pyrexia or joint pains. One feature that is often stressed is the production of copious watery sputum, but this is in fact an inconstant finding and when it is present the carcinoma is usually advanced beyond surgical treatment. Finger clubbing may be an early sign. This type of lung cancer has a much better prognosis than other forms if the diagnosis is made early when the lesion may be resectable.