Cyst in normal kidney

Pacer412

I had a partial nephrectomy on 6/18/12. I am now cancer free . When they did the ultra sound, they discovered the cyst in my left kidney and a mass on my right kidney. Was more concerned about the cancer so I never asked about the cyst, don't even know how big it is. I'm guessing that the cyst won't turn malignant, but will my chances increase for cancer in my left kidney.

MedScanMan

Cyst
Ultrasound is a fair exam in making a decision whether a lesion seen is either a fluid filled cyst or a malignant mass. If the Radiologist is calling it a cyst it probably is and so the "trust factor” A follow up exam to the ultrasound is always a CT of the abdomen with and without contrast. The absolute proof is when the lesion does not light up when given contrast. Then you know it's a cyst. All of this is up to you doctor of course.......but you certainly have a say in having the CT just to put your mind at ease. Something to think about. Did you not have a CT before your Nephrectomy? If you did this is already done and the measurement you're interested in is in the report. Wish you well with this.

Jeff

Pacer412

MedScanMan said:

Cyst
Ultrasound is a fair exam in making a decision whether a lesion seen is either a fluid filled cyst or a malignant mass. If the Radiologist is calling it a cyst it probably is and so the "trust factor” A follow up exam to the ultrasound is always a CT of the abdomen with and without contrast. The absolute proof is when the lesion does not light up when given contrast. Then you know it's a cyst. All of this is up to you doctor of course.......but you certainly have a say in having the CT just to put your mind at ease. Something to think about. Did you not have a CT before your Nephrectomy? If you did this is already done and the measurement you're interested in is in the report. Wish you well with this.

Jeff

Thanks Medscan man,
I did
Thanks Medscan man,
I did have a ct with and without contrast, and will again in December. I feel confident that it is just a cyst now, but didn't know if in the future it could become cancerous. Or, since I did have cancer in the right kidney, if having a cyst in the left one would make it more probable to have cancer there.
Sue

MedScanMan

Pacer412 said:

Thanks Medscan man,
I did
Thanks Medscan man,
I did have a ct with and without contrast, and will again in December. I feel confident that it is just a cyst now, but didn't know if in the future it could become cancerous. Or, since I did have cancer in the right kidney, if having a cyst in the left one would make it more probable to have cancer there.
Sue

Pacer
Sue
Glad you had the CT scan. The cyst will not turn. It's a cyst. I have two on one kidney and one in the upper pole of the kidney they did partial nephrectomy on. They've all been with me for more than 10 years. In December, after the CT is done.....say to the Technologist.....look, I know you're not allowed to tell me anything about the exam, but can you just tell me the size of the renal cyst. That's a question just about every Tech in the country won't mind answering. Then you can get the size from the old report and see how fast it's growing. To give you an idea most of mine have remained under 3 cm. And in ten years they probably grew 1 cm each. I've seen scans where patients have had six or eight cysts on each kidney some more than 10 cm. Scrunching the kidneys out of place and nothing is done unless there are symptoms. Be well.
Jeff

adman

MedScanMan said:

Pacer
Sue
Glad you had the CT scan. The cyst will not turn. It's a cyst. I have two on one kidney and one in the upper pole of the kidney they did partial nephrectomy on. They've all been with me for more than 10 years. In December, after the CT is done.....say to the Technologist.....look, I know you're not allowed to tell me anything about the exam, but can you just tell me the size of the renal cyst. That's a question just about every Tech in the country won't mind answering. Then you can get the size from the old report and see how fast it's growing. To give you an idea most of mine have remained under 3 cm. And in ten years they probably grew 1 cm each. I've seen scans where patients have had six or eight cysts on each kidney some more than 10 cm. Scrunching the kidneys out of place and nothing is done unless there are symptoms. Be well.
Jeff

Cyst on my left kidney.....

I'm 49/ Male. Really good health otherwise.
Random CT scan with/ without contrast found my 5cm tumor.
I had 3 opinions.
two of them wanted to do a partial, and one was adamant on a full.
I went with the full after evaluating the post-surgery risks with a partial....drainage, % of kidney left functioning, etc.

I had a full RN on my right kidney 06/17/12. This Tuesday is 3 weeks.
I'm getting stronger everyday.
I had a very small cyst on my remaining left kidney....3 month ultrasound and xray tests are already ordered.

Thanks for the support here in these rooms.

God Bless everyone!!

DMike

adman said:

Cyst on my left kidney.....

I'm 49/ Male. Really good health otherwise.
Random CT scan with/ without contrast found my 5cm tumor.
I had 3 opinions.
two of them wanted to do a partial, and one was adamant on a full.
I went with the full after evaluating the post-surgery risks with a partial....drainage, % of kidney left functioning, etc.

I had a full RN on my right kidney 06/17/12. This Tuesday is 3 weeks.
I'm getting stronger everyday.
I had a very small cyst on my remaining left kidney....3 month ultrasound and xray tests are already ordered.

Thanks for the support here in these rooms.

God Bless everyone!!

Cyst
Hi Adman,
We have very similar RCC experiences. I had a 5cm tumor on my right kidney, however I had a partial nephrectomy on 12/6/11. I also have a cyst on my left kidney and my doctor has assured me it's just a cyst. He said it's very common in men my age, which is 57.

I just had my first 6 month CT scan and everything looks good. I go back in December for my 12 month CT scan. I hope your 3 month tests turn out great.
--David

adman

DMike said:

Cyst
Hi Adman,
We have very similar RCC experiences. I had a 5cm tumor on my right kidney, however I had a partial nephrectomy on 12/6/11. I also have a cyst on my left kidney and my doctor has assured me it's just a cyst. He said it's very common in men my age, which is 57.

I just had my first 6 month CT scan and everything looks good. I go back in December for my 12 month CT scan. I hope your 3 month tests turn out great.
--David

Thanks, David....

I appreciate your feedback. Let's stay connected & support each other.

- Michael

Michael6701

Cyst
I would suspect that since you already had the cancer in your right kidney the cancer doc and the radiologist will be diligent about evaluating that cyst for changes from scan to scan and they will treat it appropriately, if it ever becomes necessary. Just as a caution to anyone, though, I had a cyst in my right kidney and various scans and ultrasounds over a 5 year period always labeled it a simple cyst incapable of becoming cancerous... but it did. I had a 5cm papillary type 2, grade 3 tumor removed last year. When I mention the previous "safe" dx's they only shrug their shoulders.

adman

Michael6701 said:

Cyst
I would suspect that since you already had the cancer in your right kidney the cancer doc and the radiologist will be diligent about evaluating that cyst for changes from scan to scan and they will treat it appropriately, if it ever becomes necessary. Just as a caution to anyone, though, I had a cyst in my right kidney and various scans and ultrasounds over a 5 year period always labeled it a simple cyst incapable of becoming cancerous... but it did. I had a 5cm papillary type 2, grade 3 tumor removed last year. When I mention the previous "safe" dx's they only shrug their shoulders.

Thanks....
Mine was a Clear Cell, Grade 1. I'm not sure if the type & grade play into the risk factor of cysts becoming malignant or not. Does anyone know?

adman

Michael6701 said:

Cyst
I would suspect that since you already had the cancer in your right kidney the cancer doc and the radiologist will be diligent about evaluating that cyst for changes from scan to scan and they will treat it appropriately, if it ever becomes necessary. Just as a caution to anyone, though, I had a cyst in my right kidney and various scans and ultrasounds over a 5 year period always labeled it a simple cyst incapable of becoming cancerous... but it did. I had a 5cm papillary type 2, grade 3 tumor removed last year. When I mention the previous "safe" dx's they only shrug their shoulders.

:
:

MedScanMan

adman said:

Thanks....
Mine was a Clear Cell, Grade 1. I'm not sure if the type & grade play into the risk factor of cysts becoming malignant or not. Does anyone know?

Adman
I don't believe you have worries here. A cyst is a cyst. On a CT scan there are measurements for Water, Fat and Mass. If the reading on your small cyst was 0 or even under 0 than it's a water measurement and it's a cyst. What your chances are of getting another RCC......I wish I knew that because mine was called Fuhrman Nuclear Grade I-II. Whatever that means. But worrying about the cyst turning, I don't think so. Doesn't mean you don't need the occasional ultrasound or CT with and without contrast to check for size of the cyst just to monitor and of course to make sure another small RCC doesn't pop up. Always great to find them early.

Jeff