What is a Cyst in the Kidneys

Some people get the diagnosis of kidney cyst without knowing what a cyst is. They are concerned whether the cyst can be cancerous, how the cyst may affect their kidneys, etc. We update this article so as to help you make it clear.

What are kidney cysts? As people get older, sacs filled with fluid can form in the kidneys. These sacs are called as “cysts”. They are usually small oval or round thin-walled sacs with watery fluid within them. One or more may form within the kidneys.

Kidney cysts are almost always benign (not cancerous). Simple cysts are the most common type of kidney cyst, which is not the same thing as Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which is a progressive disease that can lead to kidney failure.

Simple cysts can occur in bilateral or unilateral kidneys. A cyst based on the area it is located in the kidneys can be categorized into cortical renal cyst, renal mudullary cyst and Parapelvic kidney cyst. Simple kidney cysts can grow larger slowly over time, which may enlarge the kidneys and impair kidney functions. People need close observation, and if the cyst grows large to cause kidney damage or pose symptoms, patients may need surgical or herbal treatment to help their condition.

The cause of simple kidney cysts is not fully understood. However, as people age incidence rate of simple kidney cysts will increase. An estimated 25 percent of people over 40 years of age and 50 percent of people 50 years of age have simple kidney cysts. Typically, only one cyst occurs on the surface of the kidneys, but multiple cysts can affect one or both kidneys. However, simple kidney cysts are not the same as the cysts that form with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).

Simple kidney cysts are often detected during an imaging test being done for another condition. Usually B-ultrasound testing is helpful for the diagnosis as well as regular re-checkups for renal cysts. CT-scanning will be done if B-ultrasound can not exactly confirm the property of the cyst in kidney. In Polycystic Kidney Cyst, a inherited kidney disorder, the illness condition is much more serious because the patients have numerous cysts with varied sizes that can enlarge the kidneys and reduce kidney functions over prolonged course.