Renal Cyst - Cystic renal disease

Solitary or multiple renal cysts are common, especially with advancing age: 50% of those aged 50 years or more have one or more such cysts. They have no special significance except in the differential diagnosis of renal tumours. Such cysts are often asymptomatic and are found on excretion urography or ultrasound examination performed for some other reason.

Occasionally they may cause pain and/or haematuria owing to their large size, or bleeding may occur into the cyst.

Cystic degeneration (the formation of multiple cysts which enlarge with time) occurs regularly in the kidneys of patients with end-stage renal failure treated by dialysis and/or transplantation.

Malignant tumour formation seems to be more common in such kidneys than in the general population.

Renal calculi

These are diagnosed in about 10-20% of patients with ADPKD. Frequently they are composed of uric acid and hence radiolucent.

Obstructing or painful stones are treated no differently than are stones in patients with normal urinary tracts. Percutaneous stone removal and extracorporeal lithotripsy may safely be employed.

Cyst infection

The response to standard antibacterial therapy is often poor owing to poor penetration of conventional antibiotics across the cyst wall. Lipophilic antibiotics active against Gram-negative bacteria, such as co-trimoxazole and fluoroquinolones, penetrate into the cysts better and their use has greatly improved the treatment of this complication.

Hepatic Cyst, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Intracranial Aneurism, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Mitral Valve Prolapse Symptom, Medullary Sponge Kidney, Renal Agenesis, Hypoplasia, Ectopic Kidney, Renal Glycosuria

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Health Tip

Foods high in substances called purines increase levels of uric acid in the blood, and foods to be avoided include poultry, strawberries, shellfish, game, caffeine and alcohol.