Renal Cysts

[Van537]

I am a 65 yeat old male with a 2.2 cm cyst on my left kindy and 6.0 cm cyst on my right kidney, both Class I.   I am an active skydiver, runner, weight trainer and golfer, weighing 160 lbs and 5'9".  I am otherwise asymptomatic, although I sense some bloating, but this might be psychosoamtic now that I know that I have a tennis ball size gorwth in my abdomen.  I am, However, also gaining weight, which has not noticiably changed in 50 years.  

My questions:  Can the cysts burst, and if so with what consequences?  Since the cysts were just dicovered, how do I know how fast they are growing [waiting a year for an ultrasound seems a bit risky]?  And at what point is invasive action indicated?

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Yes, I do understand your concern.For simple class 1 cysts, the behaviour is that of a benign cyst. So the characteristic pattern of rapid enlargement and rupture are unlikely unless the cyst is large.Most large cysts however may present with symptoms. There may be abdominal pain, fever, and an abdominal mass as well as gross hematuria.

Renal cysts are fairly common and most persons with the cysts are asymptomatic. At this point,no substantial data offer a definite clinical profile for asymptomatic simple renal cysts ( eg definite time from cyst assessment to onset of symptoms ).

[Van537]

A month earlier I had noticed a couple of small bloody particles in my urine.  I received a digital prostate examine which revealed nothing remarkable.  I subsequently had a cystoscopy which revealed prostate growth in the direction of my bladder.  PSA was unchanged from the previous year at .9.  I have no other BPH symptons.  There were no other revelations from the scoping.  I also had a CT scan which is when the renal cysyts were discoverd.  

My urologist did recommend an ultrasound in a year.  I'm still curious about the rate of growth and the sympoms and risk of the cyst bursting or becoming so large than other organs are affected.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Was it an ultrasound scan that was done?

A class 1 classification tells your physician that the cysts are not likely to be of the precancerous type. What was the indication for the scan? You have posted that you were relatively asymptomatic except for the sensation of bloatedness.I would assume ,this was what compelled you to have a scan done.

Radiographic monitoring is usually done for these cysts of the class 1 type but usually there is no further evaluation done unless the person becomes symptomatic. Class 1 renal cysts suggest that these are simple and benign cysts.I know you are worried about this however, I believe you arebeing  properly managed. You may opt to have a repeat scan in 6 months however, I doubt if there will be any changes noted.