Are kidney cysts with calcification serious?
Disease description:
I was diagnosed with a renal cyst a year ago and have been managing it with medication. Today, I suddenly experienced severe pain and went to the hospital for an examination. The doctor told me that calcification has occurred. I would like to ask if this condition is serious.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Guang
Renal cysts with calcification are generally not considered particularly severe, but the specific situation needs to be determined based on the nature of the cyst wall calcification and the patient's symptoms. Cysts with calcification are a common kidney condition, usually discovered during physical exams or abdominal imaging performed for other reasons. Renal cysts refer to fluid-filled sac-like structures within the kidney, while calcification refers to the deposition of calcium salts within or around these cysts.
If the calcification is limited to the cyst wall without malignancy and does not cause any symptoms, such as flank pain, hematuria, or proteinuria, the condition is generally not serious. However, the patient still requires regular follow-up to monitor changes in the cyst. In some cases, however, renal cysts with calcification may require closer attention. If the cyst enlarges, it may compress surrounding tissues and organs, causing symptoms such as flank pain and hematuria. Additionally, calcification can sometimes be a sign of malignancy, although this is relatively rare, further evaluation is still necessary to rule out the possibility of malignant lesions.
