Are cysts on the kidneys serious?

Cysts in the kidneys can be seious. Some are caused by genetic conditions such as adult polycystic kidney disease. These diseases are serious and warrant close medical attention.

Transcript

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So kidney cysts appear as fluid-filled growths on the periphery of the kidney.

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They can measure anywhere from half an inch to five, six inches in size. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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Are cysts in the kidney serious? And how can they be managed? Cysts in the kidneys are very common in adults.

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They occur in about 20% to 30% of patients. And nowadays, most patients get diagnosed with kidney cysts,

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incidentally, meaning, they get an ultrasound or a CAT scan or MRI to evaluate for abdominal pain

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or history of cancer. And kidney cysts are discovered.

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And the patient is referred to urology for evaluation. So kidney cysts appear as fluid-filled growths

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on the periphery of the kidney. They can measure anywhere from half an inch to five, six inches in size.

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And because there are so many of them in 20% to 30% of adults, we've been able to characterize them in terms

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of how serious they are. So we grade them as grade 1, 2, 3, 4.

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Grade 1 cysts are very simple. There is no complexity within the cyst. They're very smooth and benign-appearing.

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And these carry a 0% chance of cancer. And then grade 4, the most severe, are very irregular,

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thickened, has a solid component to it. And it actually enhances when you give dye on CAT scan.

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So these patients have about a 90% chance of cancer. And then in between, there's grade 2 and grade 3.

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Grade 2 cysts have a little bit of septations meaning a little wall within the kidney cyst.

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And these carry about a 10% risk of cancer. And then grade 3 has more walls within the cyst

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and some calcium in the cyst. So these have about a 50% chance of cancer. So depending on the grade, usually grade 3 or 4 cysts

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should be removed by the surgeon. Whereas, grade 1 and 2 can be monitored with repeat ultrasounds or CAT scans.