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Kidney Cysts
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Kidneys Urinary System

Kidney Cysts

Kidney cysts range from harmless, age-related sacs to complex genetic diseases like polycystic kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure.

Overview

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. You may get simple kidney cysts as you age; they are usually harmless. However, there are also diseases that cause kidney cysts.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic condition that runs in families. In PKD, many cysts grow in the kidneys, which can enlarge the organs and make them work poorly. About half of people with the most common type of PKD end up with kidney failure. PKD also causes cysts in other parts of the body, such as the liver.

Symptoms of PKD

Often, there are no symptoms at first. Later, symptoms include:

  • Pain in the back and lower sides
  • Headaches
  • Blood in the urine

Diagnosis and Management

Doctors diagnose PKD with imaging tests and family history. There is no cure, but treatments can help with symptoms and complications. These include medicines, lifestyle changes, and if there is kidney failure, dialysis or kidney transplants.

Acquired Cystic Kidney Disease (ACKD)

Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) happens in people who have chronic kidney disease, especially if they are on dialysis. Unlike PKD, the kidneys are normal-sized, and cysts do not form in other parts of the body. ACKD often has no symptoms, and the cysts are usually harmless. If they do cause complications, treatments include medicines, draining the cysts, or surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Simple cysts are usually solitary, small, and asymptomatic, often found incidentally on imaging. PKD cysts are multiple, often bilateral, and may be associated with family history, liver cysts, or hypertension. A detailed family history and genetic testing can help differentiate them.
Genetic counseling and testing can confirm a PKD mutation. If positive, regular imaging (ultrasound or MRI) every 1–2 years and monitoring of blood pressure, kidney function, and liver enzymes can detect early changes and guide timely interventions.
Options include pain control with NSAIDs or opioids, percutaneous drainage of large cysts, sclerotherapy to collapse cyst walls, and in severe cases, partial or total nephrectomy. For PKD, cyst‑reducing medications like somatostatin analogs may help slow growth, while for ACKD, cysts are usually managed conservatively unless symptomatic.===
PKD is a hereditary disorder that leads to enlarged kidneys, hypertension, and progressive kidney failure; treatment focuses on blood pressure control, pain management, and eventual dialysis or transplant. ACKD occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease or on dialysis; cysts are usually smaller, kidneys remain normal-sized, and treatment is usually conservative unless cysts cause pain or infection.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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