Kidney Cyst Treatment

Kidney Cysts refer to small sac-like structures with thin walls and watery fluid. It can develop on the surface of your kidney or inside your nephron due to aging. They can grow on your kidneys or into them. The majority of kidney cysts are less than two inches. They can either remain stable or grow in size. Most people have multiple cysts on one or both kidneys. But anyway, they usually do not affect the function of the kidneys. In rare cases, a large cyst can bring some pain. Hence, it will require monitoring or further actions by the doctor.

Types Of Kidney Cysts

Kidney cysts are fluid-filled sacs that may develop on or inside the kidneys. Here are the most common types:  

1. Simple Kidney Cysts: A benign backward group of cysts with thin walls filled with clear fluid. It is characteristically non-symptomatic, harmless, and more common in older persons. 

2. Complex Kidney Cysts: Cysts with suspicious features like thickened walls, septa, or solid components. As per the Bosniak classification system, it may be subjected to monitoring or intervention based on the assessed cancer risk. 

3. Polycystic Kidney Disease: A genetic condition involving the growth of cysts in the kidney, which in severe causes renal failure. It is a serious disorder with multiple variants, such as autosomal dominant and recessive. 

4. Acquired Cystic Kidney Diseases: In this case, a condition arises in CAKUT patients, metabolism forms cysts and are disposed to getting kidney cancer; regular surveillance is mandated.

Symptoms of Kidney Cyst

Kidney cysts, fluid-filled sacs that can develop on or within the kidneys, may not always cause noticeable symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, they can include:

1. Pain or Discomfort: Large kidney cysts can lead to pain or discomfort in the back or side, where the kidneys are located. The pain may be dull or sharp and can vary in intensity.

2. Abdominal Pain: Cysts that compress nearby organs or obstruct normal kidney function may cause abdominal pain or discomfort, contributing to a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen.

3. Hematuria (Blood in Urine): Cysts may cause bleeding within the kidney, leading to the presence of blood in the urine. Hematuria may result in pink, red, or brown-colored urine.

4. High Blood Pressure: Kidney cysts can interfere with the regulation of blood pressure, causing hypertension. Managing blood pressure becomes essential to prevent complications.

5. Frequent Urination or Urgency: Cysts can exert pressure on the bladder or ureters, leading to an increased frequency of urination or a sense of urgency.

6. Flank Mass: In some cases, a palpable mass or lump may be felt in the abdomen or flank region, indicating the presence of a sizable kidney cyst.

Kidney Cyst Causes

Essentially, any discussion around the causes of kidney cysts needs to talk about the different types involved because there are so many different types. So a further classification would look like this:  

• Age: They develop somehow, for some reason. But it appears that they keep multiplying and increasing as the ages progress. 
• Genetics: The mutation is taking place which causes a person suffering from PKD as genetically inherited disorder. Its two forms are Autosomal dominant(inherited from one parent) and Autosomal recessive(inherited from both parents). 
• Chronic kidney disease: The Majority of the long-term renal failures are noted in patients who are on Dialysis suffering from chronic renal syndrome.
• Infection or injury: In very rare conditions, cysts may develop in the kidneys due to this.

Diagnostic Tests for Kidney Cysts

Kidney cyst diagnosis utilizes a range of imaging, together with blood and urine tests. The following is a breakdown of some of the common diagnostic procedures:

• Ultrasound: The first imaging process for the kidney that uses sound waves to detect the cyst and differentiate types. This is non-invasive and inexpensive.
• CT Scan: Provides detailed imaging of the kidneys relating to size, shape, and structure of the cysts; especially useful for determining whether complex cysts are present.
• MRI: Provides detailed imaging vital for the assessment of complex cysts and distinguishing cysts from tumors. 
• Blood and Urine Tests: These tests measure certain substances in the blood, such as creatinine and BUN, to determine the functioning status of the kidneys, detecting any interference due to the cyst, and urine tests are done to look for abnormal findings that may be suggestive of kidney disease.

Kidney Cyst Risk Factors & Complications

By understanding the potential complications and risk factors associated with kidney cysts, one can effectively manage kidney cysts. Here's a breakdown:

Risk Factors:

• Age: Kidney cysts appear more with advancing age.  
• Genetics: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is hereditary, and genetic factors happen to be the most prominent risk.  
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Patients with CKD, especially those on dialysis, have a significantly increased risk of ACKD.
• Gender: Simple kidney cysts are more common in men.  

Complications:

• Infection: A kidney cyst infection causes pain, fever, and other symptoms.
• Rupture: Rupture of a cyst may produce severe pain in the back or side and may also produce blood in the urine.
• Burst cyst: The Cyst breaks open and causes pain, blood in pee, and other symptoms.
• Obstruction: A large cyst may block the passage of urine causing kidney injury and infection.
• Hemorrhage: Bleeding may occur within the cyst.
• High Blood Pressure: In certain cases, kidney cysts lead to or can result in high blood pressure.
• Decline in Kidney Function: The Growth of cysts can damage kidneys leading to their failure. 
• Cancer: Some of the cysts might have a predilection to become cancerous or be cancerous.

Prevention

There are no known ways to prevent a simple kidney cyst. It is a part of the natural aging process. You can reduce the risk to some degree by: 

• Drinking plenty of water helps in the proper functioning of your kidneys. 
• Low sodium, well-balanced diet can help in maintaining the health of kidneys. 
• High blood pressure may put extra strain on your kidneys and, therefore, should be kept within a healthy range. 
• Managing blood sugar levels very well in diabetes is important for kidney health. 
• Smoking is injurious to the kidneys. 
• Through routine medical check-ups, one can easily detect the existence of problems in the kidneys.

The treatment approach for kidney cysts depends on their size, symptoms, and impact on kidney function. Here's an overview of the treatment procedure in six key points:

1. Observation: Small, asymptomatic kidney cysts may not require active treatment. Instead, healthcare providers may opt for a watch-and-wait approach, monitoring the cyst's size and the patient's overall kidney function through periodic imaging and laboratory tests.

2. Pain Management: If the kidney cyst is causing pain or discomfort, over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription medications may be recommended to manage symptoms. Lifestyle modifications, such as applying heat to the affected area, can also provide relief.

3. Aspiration (Cyst Drainage): For larger cysts causing persistent pain or other complications, a healthcare provider may perform a procedure called cyst aspiration. This involves draining the fluid from the cyst using a thin needle, providing temporary relief. However, cysts may reaccumulate, requiring repeat procedures.

4. Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy involves injecting a special solution into the cyst after drainage. This aims to prevent the cyst from refilling with fluid, reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

5. Surgical Decortication: In cases where cysts are large, causing significant symptoms, or impacting kidney function, surgical intervention may be considered. Surgical decortication involves removing the cyst's outer wall while preserving the healthy kidney tissue.

6. Laparoscopic or Open Surgery: Surgical removal of the entire cyst may be performed through laparoscopic or open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery involves smaller incisions, resulting in a quicker recovery compared to traditional open surgery.