Posted on 8th December, 2025 at 7:28:16 AM
Cysts are fluid filled sacs which may develop in different parts of the body. They are non-cancerous & are usually not harmful. However, cysts in the kidneys are a cause of concern.
If you or your loved one is diagnosed with cysts in your kidneys, consult a urologist to understand how to cut down the risk of complications.
What is the prevalence of kidney cysts?
Renal cysts are of two types
1. Simple Cysts :
These are individual cysts with thin walls containing water-like fluid. These do not cause damage to the kidneys or affect their function in any way.
2. Polycystic Kidney Disease:
Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder resulting in formation of multiple cysts on the kidneys. They tend to cause severe kidney damage as they grow.
In most cases, cysts do not cause any symptoms & cannot be found until a person gets a scan done for some other reason. These cysts may vary from being too tiny to be visible without a microscope to being as large as a tennis ball. Growing cysts put pressure on nearby organs causing pain.
Identifying Signs:
While most cysts do not cause any symptoms, as they get infected or grow larger there may be a few noticeable signs:
Polycystic kidney disease may cause symptoms like:
Analysing Causes:
Generally cysts are harmless, but in some cases may lead to severe complications such as:
Diagnosing Cysts:
A blood & urine sample may be required to understand the functioning of the kidney. Certain imaging tests such as the following may also be recommended.
Exploring Treatments:
If the cysts is tiny & doesn't cause any symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. However, frequent imaging tests (usually once every 6 months) have to be done make sure the cyst has not enlarged.
If the cyst is large, treatment may involve sclerotherapy or surgery. Sclerotherapy refers to puncturing & draining the cyst and then filling it with alcohol solution to prevent it from forming again. A large cyst may be removed with a laparoscopic surgery making several small incisions. The surgeon first drains the cyst and then cut & burn the walls of the cyst.
