Can kidney cyst be cancer? how to treat?

The kidney cyst corresponds to a liquid-filled pouch that normally forms in people over 40 and, when small, does not cause symptoms and does not pose a risk to the person. In the case of complex, larger and numerous cysts, blood in the urine and back pain can be seen for example, and should be aspirated or removed by surgery according to the nephrologist's recommendation.

Due to the absence of symptoms, especially when it comes to a simple cyst, some people may go several years without knowing that they have a kidney cyst, being only discovered in routine exams, such as ultrasound or computed tomography, for example.

Signals and symptons

When the kidney cyst is small, it usually does not cause symptoms. However, in the case of larger or complex cysts, some clinical changes can be noticed, such as:

Back pain; Presence of blood in the urine; Increased blood pressure; Frequent urinary infections.

Simple kidney cysts are usually benign and the person can go through life without knowing they have it due to the absence of symptoms, only being discovered in routine tests.

The signs and symptoms of kidney cysts can also be indicative of other conditions that can result in kidney damage. Take the test and see if you have kidney changes:

1. Frequent desire to urinate Yes No
2. Urinate in small amounts at a time Yes No
3. Constant pain in the bottom of your back or flanks Yes No
4. Swelling of the legs, feet, arms or face Yes No
5. Itching all over the body Yes No
6. Excessive tiredness for no apparent reason Yes No
7. Changes in the color and smell of urine Yes No
8. Presence of foam in the urine Yes No
9. Difficulty sleeping or poor sleep quality Yes No
10. Loss of appetite and metallic taste in the mouth Yes No
11. Feeling of pressure in the belly when urinating Yes No

Classification of cysts

The kidney cyst can be classified according to the size and content inside:

Bosniak I, which represents the simple and benign cyst, being normally small; Bosniak II, which is also benign, but has some septa and calcifications inside; Bosniak IIF, which is characterized by the presence of more septa and greater than 3 cm; Bosniak III, in which the cyst is larger, has thick walls, several septa and dense material inside; Bosniak IV, are cysts that have characteristics of cancer, and should be removed as soon as identified.

classification is done according to the result of the computed tomography and thus the nephrologist can decide which treatment will be indicated for each case. See how it is done and how to prepare for computed tomography.

How the treatment is done

Renal cyst is treated according to the size and severity of the cyst, in addition to the symptoms presented by the patient. In the case of simple cysts, only periodic monitoring may be necessary in order to check whether there has been growth or symptoms.

In cases where the cysts are large and cause symptoms, the nephrologist may recommend the removal or emptying of the cyst through a surgical process, in addition to the use of pain relieving drugs and antibiotics, which is usually indicated before or after surgery.

Can kidney cyst be cancer?

Kidney cyst is not cancer, nor can it become cancer. What happens is that kidney cancer looks like a complex kidney cyst and can be misdiagnosed by the doctor. However, tests such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can help distinguish a kidney cyst from kidney cancer, which are two different diseases. Find out what are the most common symptoms of kidney cancer.

Baby kidney cyst

The cyst in the baby's kidney can be a normal situation when it appears alone. But if more than one cyst is identified in the baby's kidney, it may be indicative of Polycystic Kidney Disease, which is a genetic disease and must be monitored by a nephrologist to avoid possible complications. In some cases, this disease can be diagnosed even during pregnancy through ultrasound.