RENAL CYSTIC DISEASES

Renal cystic disease comprises a mixed group of heritable, development al, and acquired disorders. Because of their diverse etiology, histolo gy, and clinical presentation, no single scheme of classification has gained acceptance. Conditions include autosomal dominant polycystic ki dney disease, acquired renal cystic disease, medullary sponge kidney a utosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, multicystic dysplastic k idney, medullary cystic disease, tuberous sclerosis, cysts of the rena l sinus, and von Hippel-Lindau's disease. An awareness of the patholog y of each cystic disease is helpful in the understanding of the corres ponding radiological images. Imaging techniques used in evaluating ren al cystic disease include intravenous urography, sonography, C-T,MRI, nuclear medicine, and renal angiography. Many types of cystic disease show similar imaging features. Meticulous attention to subtle radiolog ical findings is therefore essential for reaching a correct diagnosis. Imaging features requiring analysis include whether the cysts are uni lateral or bilateral, renal size and functional status, cyst distribut ion in the kidneys, and the presence of hemorrhagic and calcified rena l cysts, solid renal masses, renal sinus cysts, and cysts in adjacent organs. Radiological findings should be carefully correlated with clin ical features such as patient age, family history, symptoms, physical findings, and renal functional status before a diagnosis is attempted.