Simple kidney cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can form in one or both kidneys, typically harmless and more common with age. Diagnosis is generally through imaging tests like ultrasound or CT, and while small, asymptomatic cysts usually don't require treatment, larger or symptomatic ones may need drainage or surgery. Complications can arise from infected or burst cysts, and monitoring is recommended if no symptoms are present.

1. What are simple kidney cysts?
HT TPS://CLINICALRENAL.COM/
By –
Team – Clinical Renal Associates

2. Simple kidney cysts
Kidneys are bean-shaped organs that filter waste out of your
bloodstream to produce urine. They also help balance the fluid and
salts in your blood. Simple kidney cysts are fluid-filled sacs or cysts,
that can form in one or both of your kidneys and that grow in your
kidney and are usually harmless. There can be only one cyst or many.
The shape of Simple kidney cysts is generally round or oval. Simple
kidney cysts can range from the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball.

3. Type of Cysts
There are two types of cysts: simple cysts and polycystic kidney disease.
In simple kidney cysts kidneys do not enlarge, replace their normal structure, or
cause reduced kidney function like in cysts with polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
PKD is a genetic disorder that can cause chronic kidney disease which tends to run
in families and can be more serious. Over time with PKD, your kidneys do not work
as well, and the disease can lead to kidney failure. Sometimes PKD can cause cysts to
form in your liver or in other parts of your body.
The exact cause of simple kidney cysts is not known but they tend to be more
common as people grow older.
Simple kidney cysts are very common. They hardly need treatment. Most people
do not even know that they have simple kidney cyst until you get an imaging scan
for another reason. Small, asymptomatic cysts usually do not require any
treatment and are monitored over time. Large or symptomatic cysts can be
drained or surgically removed, if necessary. In some cases, your doctor may
prescribe medication to help shrink the cyst.

4. Diagnosis
Along with a physical exam, physician may use several tests to help them diagnose
kidney cysts.
Below are tests and procedures to diagnose simple kidney cysts:
 Imaging tests- To diagnose simple kidney cysts MRI, CT, and ultrasound are imaging
tests are done. Imaging tests can help decide if a kidney mass is a cyst or a tumor. A
specially trained technician performs imaging tests, and
a radiologist or nephrologist reviews the images. You do not need anesthesia for
these tests, but the physician may give you light sedation.
 Kidney function tests- Blood and urine tests can also be done to determine if
simple kidney cysts are impacting kidney function. Physician may just monitor them
regularly if kidney cyst is not causing any problems or symptoms.
 Ultrasound- Simple kidney cysts can be found by abdominal ultrasound by creating
images of your kidneys. A device called transducer is used for ultrasound, which
bounces safe, painless sound waves off your organs to create an image or picture of
their structure.

5. What are the symptomsand complicationsof simple kidney cysts?
Simple kidney cysts tend to grow bigger and grow in number, as a person ages. However, simple kidney cysts do not
generally cause symptoms or additional health problems.
If the cyst becomes large or becomes infected, it may cause below symptoms:
 Pain in your back or side between your ribs and pelvis
 Frequent urination
 Pain in your upper abdomen
 Swelling of the abdomen
 Fever, chills, or other signs of infection
 Blood in urine
 High blood pressure
 Dark urine

6. PKD Symptoms
Talk with your healthcare professional if you have any of these symptoms.
PKD can cause symptoms as follows:
 High blood pressure
 Blood in urine
 Urinary Tract infections (UTI)
 Headaches
 Kidney stones
 Pain in your back or side

7. Complications
Kidney cysts may sometimes lead to complications, which may include:
 An infected cyst- Infected kidney cyst may cause fever and pain.
 A burst cyst- A kidney cyst that bursts can cause a lot of pain in the back or side. Sometimes a burst cyst may even
cause blood in the urine.
 Blocked urine flow- Kidney cyst causes kidney swelling that blocks the typical flow of urine.

8. Treatment
Treatment may not be needed if a simple kidney cyst causes no
symptoms and does not affect kidney function. Physician may
recommend that you have imaging tests, such as ultrasounds, to
check whether your kidney cyst changes, over time.
You may choose to have treatment if your kidney cyst changes
and causes symptoms. Sometimes a simple kidney cyst goes
away on its own.

9. Treatmentsfor cysts that cause symptoms-
If a simple kidney cyst is causing symptoms, your physician may recommend the treatment below. Options include:
 Draining and piercing the cyst, then filling it with a solution. The solution helps to prevent the cyst from filling with fluid
again. The solution may consist of alcohol or a chemical compound.
It is rare that for shrinking the cyst, a long, thin needle may be inserted through your skin and through the wall of the
kidney cyst. Then the fluid is drained from the cyst and filled with a solution to prevent it from rebuilding.
 Surgery to remove the cyst. Surgery may be required for large cysts that are causing symptoms. A surgeon makes several
small incisions in your skin and inserts special tools and a small video camera, to access the cyst.
The surgeon guides the tools to the kidney while watching the video monitor in the operating room and uses them to
drain the fluid from the cyst. Then the walls of the cyst are cut or burned away. Surgery is hardly performed for simple
cysts. The procedure is more often used for complicated cysts with changes that may be cancer.
For some procedures, a brief hospital stay may be required to treat a kidney cyst.

10. Contact US
You may be concerned if a simple kidney cyst is
investigated during an imaging test for another
disease or condition. You can learn from your
physician about what having a simple kidney
cyst means for your health. Having relevant
knowledge may help put your mind at ease and
you will feel more in control of your situation.
To schedule an appointment with us, please visit
– https://clinicalrenal.com/all-locations/.
We are dedicated kidney specialists serving
Southeast Pennsylvania for over 40 years.

11. Follow Us
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn