Kidney cyst: definition, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of kidney tissue injury

By Cristiano Antonino On Mar 28, 2023

A kidney cyst is a benign lesion that grows from kidney tissue. This formation appears in the form of a fluid-filled pocket and in most cases does not cause serious problems

Sometimes, however, their presence can interfere with the proper functioning of the kidneys.

Kidney cyst: what is it?

Kidney cysts are very common, non-cancerous growths.

Most of the time they do not need to be removed since they are not dangerous to health, they just need to be kept under control and, moreover, they can resolve spontaneously.

They appear as separate formations from the rest of the kidney tissue, and can occur on one or both kidneys.

This condition affects a large portion of the population, at any age.

Only in very rare cases can the kidney cyst become complicated with infections, urinary tract obstructions or rupture of the cyst itself.

Kidney cyst: symptoms

In most cases, the kidney cyst causes no symptoms or changes in kidney function.

In some subjects, however, the formations can enlarge to such an extent that they compress other organs and cause pain.

Usually the discomfort, even very intense, is located in the hip area.

In rare cases, this condition can affect kidney function, especially if the cysts become infected or bleed.

The most common symptoms are fever and pain in the upper abdomen and back.

The causes

To date, the underlying causes of the formation of kidney cysts are still unclear.

Among the hypotheses is that the appearance of the cyst is the result of a weakening of the tissue of the kidney.

This causes diverticula to form in the ducts of kidney tissue, which fill with fluid and detach from the rest of the tissue, creating cysts.

According to some studies, one of the risk factors is age. 30% of patients over 70 have a simple kidney cyst.

The complications

Although mostly asymptomatic, kidney cysts, especially if they grow large, can cause complications, including infections, which can lead to fever and severe pain.

The kidney cyst can also burst causing severe pain in the side or back.

Kidney cyst: the diagnosis

A kidney cyst is diagnosed with an imaging test.

Formations are often identified during routine checks or tests done for other reasons.

Among the procedures useful for the diagnosis are imaging tests, such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Imaging tests are useful in determining whether the mass detected is a simple cyst or a suspected tumor.

Sometimes the doctor may also order tests of kidney function, while a blood sample can help determine if the formation is in any way affecting the functioning of the organ.