Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical reliabilit
y of laparoscopic treatment for simple renal cysts. Methods. Twenty pa
tients with symptomatic simple renal cysts underwent laparoscopic unro
ofing of the cysts. Four of these patients also underwent concomitant
laparoscopic cholecystectomy because of symptomatic gallbladder stones
. Results. In all cases the cyst wall was widely resected with no sign
ificant surgical complication. Cholecystectomy was easily performed wi
thout additional morbidity. Postoperative renal ultrasonography and in
travenous urography demonstrated the absence of cyst recurrences and t
he integrity of the excretory tract. Symptoms were resolved by the ope
ration in all cases. Conclusions. Laparoscopic unroofing is a safe, ef
fective, and minimally invasive treatment for selected symptomatic sim
ple renal cysts.