Kidney cysts are disturbance in the kidneys caused by the appearance of fluid-filled sacs (cyst) in kidney tissue. Kidney cysts can occur in one or both kidneys.
The cause of the formation of cysts in the kidneys is not known with certainty, but the age factor is thought to also influence the appearance of kidney cysts. Kidney cysts are generally benign, harmless, and rarely cause symptoms. Kidney cysts are different from polycystic kidney disease which is caused by genetic factors.
Kidney cysts are usually only discovered when the sufferer undergoes an examination for medical purposes medical check-up, because it often causes no symptoms. Kidney cysts that do not cause symptoms also do not need special treatment.
Symptoms of Kidney Cysts
Kidney cysts usually do not cause symptoms. Symptoms may appear when the cyst grows large enough or presses on other organs. These symptoms include:
- Pain that feels like pressing in the lower back or waist. The pain will also get worse when the cyst ruptures.
- Urine is dark or contains blood.
- Urinate more often.
- Heartburn.
- Fever.
- Swelling of the stomach.
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Although kidney cysts usually do not cause symptoms, consult your doctor immediately if you feel conditions that are suspected to be symptoms of kidney cysts. This aims to monitor the progress of the disease and prevent complications, or look for other dangerous possibilities.
Kidney cysts are often only discovered when the patient undergoes a medical check-up. If there is a kidney cyst, the patient needs regular check-ups with a kidney doctor to monitor the size of the cyst, whether it is smaller, fixed, or growing.
Causes of Kidney Cysts
In contrast to polycystic kidney disease which is caused by heredity, the exact cause of kidney cysts is still unknown. However, it is suspected that there is a surface layer of the kidney that begins to weaken and forms a pocket. The sac then fills with fluid, detaches and becomes a cyst.
Kidney cysts are more common in men than women. In addition, kidney cysts are also more common in people over the age of 50 and people with diabetes.
Kidney Cyst Diagnosis
Kidney cysts often do not cause symptoms, so patients and doctors generally only know of a cyst in the kidney when the patient performs a complementary examination with the scanning method, when medical check-up.
Through a scan with a kidney ultrasound, a kidney cyst can be seen. However, to get a more detailed picture of the kidney, the doctor will perform a scan with a CT scan or MRI.
Through a scan, the doctor can determine the severity of the kidney cyst by seeing whether the cyst wall is calcified or not. Scans can also provide information about the number and size of cysts in the patient's kidneys.
In addition to scanning, patients can also undergo additional tests to determine kidney function. Kidney function tests are carried out by taking samples of the patient's blood and urine for examination in the laboratory.
The doctor will determine whether the patient needs to undergo kidney cyst treatment or not based on the results of these examinations.
Kidney Cyst Treatment
Treatment of kidney cysts is adjusted according to the severity of the cyst. If there is only one kidney cyst, it is small, and does not cause symptoms, the doctor will not provide special treatment, because these cysts can disappear on their own or persist and do not cause problems.
However, the doctor will arrange a patient control schedule to monitor the condition of the cyst periodically through scans for 6-12 months. In addition to the scan, the doctor can also monitor kidney function. Here are some treatment options if kidney cysts cause complaints:
Sclerotherapy
If kidney cysts cause symptoms, the patient is recommended to undergo sclerotherapy to drain the cyst fluid using a long thin needle. Through sclerotherapy, The fluid inside the cyst will be removed, then the cyst cavity will be filled with alcohol to prevent the cyst from forming again.
During treatment, patients who underwent sclerotherapy will receive a local anesthetic and be able to go home the same day.
Operation
If the kidney cyst in the patient's body is large and causes symptoms, the kidney doctor may recommend surgical removal of the cyst. This procedure is performed by a urologist by making an incision in the skin to remove fluid from the cyst. Next, the kidney wall containing the cyst will be cut or burned.
Kidney Cyst Complications
There are several complications that can arise from kidney cysts, namely:
- Cyst rupture
A ruptured kidney cyst can cause severe pain in the back or waist, between the ribs and the pelvis.
- Infection of the cystIf the cyst that appears in the kidney becomes infected, the patient may experience pain and fever.
- Urinary disturbancesIf the urinary tract is blocked due to a kidney cyst, the patient may experience difficulty urinating and swelling of the kidneys (hydronephrosis).
Kidney cysts are difficult to prevent, but you can detect them early by doing medical check-up routinely.