CONDITIONS
Kidney Cysts
Kidney cysts are round pouches of fluid formed on or in the kidneys. Kidney cysts generally are a type called simple kidney cysts and those are not cancer and rarely cause problems.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is different than kidney cysts as it runs in families and causes a large number of cysts to grow in the kidneys.
What are the symptoms of Kidney Cysts?
Simple kidney cysts typically don’t cause symptoms, but development of a large simple kidney cyst may start developing symptoms such as:
- Dull pain in the back or side
- Fever
- Upper stomach pain
PKD may cause symptoms including:
- High blood pressure
- Back or side pain
- Blood in your urine
- Headaches
- Urinary tract infections
- Kidney stones
What are the causes and risk factors of Kidney Cysts?
The cause for simple kidney cysts is unclear, but it is said that kidney cysts develop upon weaking of the surface layer of the kidney thereby forming a pouch. The pouch then fills with fluid, detaches, and develops into a cyst.
PKD is said to be caused by genetics.
How are Kidney Cysts diagnosed?
The diagnosis of simple kidney cysts is difficult since the absence of specific symptoms and it is often found during an imaging test for another condition.
Tests and procedures used to diagnose simple kidney cysts include:
Imaging tests: MRI, CT and ultrasound are often used to diagnose simple kidney cysts as these can determine whether a kidney mass is a cyst or a tumor.
Kidney function tests: A sample of blood is tested and that may reveal if a kidney cyst is affecting the functioning of the kidney.
What are the treatment options for Kidney Cysts?
Treatment may not be necessary – If a simple kidney cyst causes no symptoms and doesn’t affect kidney function, treatment may not be required.
The doctor may ask timely imaging tests to study if the kidney cysts is changing and if these show changes at any point, the doctor may advise treatment.
Cyst Sclerotherapy is a procedure to remove cyst and has the following steps:
The cyst is punctured with a long needle inserted through the skin, and is drained and the pouch is then filled with a solution containing alcohol; this causes the tissue to harden and lowers the chances of the cyst forming again. Scarring down the space within the cyst is called sclerosis.
Surgery to remove large cysts
Larger cyst may cause troubling symptoms may require surgery. The cyst is accessed by making several small incisions in the skin and inserting special tools and a small video camera. By looking through this video camera, the surgeon guides the tools to the kidney and uses them to drain the fluid from the cyst. Further, the walls of the cyst are cut or burned away.
References
- Kidney Cysts. Mayo Clinic. March 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-cysts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374138
- What Is Kidney Cysts? WebMD. March 2024. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/kidney-cyst-causes-symptoms-treatments
