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What Does A Lumbar MRI Showing A Kidney Cyst Indicate?
Question: Ok, I had a lumbar MRI for lower back pain from arthritis, Pars Defect, etc. but during the MRI an incidental finding of possible Kidney Cyst was discovered. I am 67 year old male with no real health issues and no symptoms. I am being sent for an ultrasound on Friday.. the report does not say how large the cyst is? Does the radiologist from the Lumbar MRI likely already know its a cyst from the incidental findings?? What the chances it is cancer??
Brief Answer:
Most renal cysts are harmless
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The finding of renal cysts incidentally during a scan for some other reason is quite common. Quite a few percentage of normal population have these cysts after the age of 50 without suffering any ill-effects. An ultrasound picture of a smooth thin walled, clear fluid containing cyst does not warrant any further investigation under normal circumstances. Should the cyst show rapid enlargement in size over time, or if there is pain or fever, some patients may need further evaluation such as a CT scan with intravenous contrast. This helps categorize these cysts on scale of I to IV, and the only ones you really need to worry are the type IV Bosniak cysts as we call them which are less than 5% in incidence.
I do understand your anxiety as I learnt that you have a family history of malignant lesions, but rest assured, the present scenario is suggestive of countless cysts that we see on scans everyday. Should the radiologist not be aware of this issue, you are perfectly justified in informing him of your family history, and if required, he or she will familiarize themselves with the MRI films at the time of scan.
Hope I have been able to reassure you.
Regards and best wishes.
Most renal cysts are harmless
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The finding of renal cysts incidentally during a scan for some other reason is quite common. Quite a few percentage of normal population have these cysts after the age of 50 without suffering any ill-effects. An ultrasound picture of a smooth thin walled, clear fluid containing cyst does not warrant any further investigation under normal circumstances. Should the cyst show rapid enlargement in size over time, or if there is pain or fever, some patients may need further evaluation such as a CT scan with intravenous contrast. This helps categorize these cysts on scale of I to IV, and the only ones you really need to worry are the type IV Bosniak cysts as we call them which are less than 5% in incidence.
I do understand your anxiety as I learnt that you have a family history of malignant lesions, but rest assured, the present scenario is suggestive of countless cysts that we see on scans everyday. Should the radiologist not be aware of this issue, you are perfectly justified in informing him of your family history, and if required, he or she will familiarize themselves with the MRI films at the time of scan.
Hope I have been able to reassure you.
Regards and best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thanks for your through answer Dr.
Here is the only info in the report:
Mild apex left lumbar spinal curvature. Partially imaged large T2 hyperintense
likely cystic lesion of the right kidney, incompletely within the field-of-
view
What does this mean???
Thanks
Here is the only info in the report:
Mild apex left lumbar spinal curvature. Partially imaged large T2 hyperintense
likely cystic lesion of the right kidney, incompletely within the field-of-
view
What does this mean???
Thanks
Brief Answer:
MRI Screeing for spine usually excludes kidney cyst
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
When MRI imaging of spine is done, the focus is usually only on the spine. The technician usually finished his job and the reporting is often done later. The kidneys being adjacent to spine are often picked up, though incompletely as in your case. So any finding like this cyst of kidneys on MRI is quite common, and the radiologist directs that should there be a requirement, the patient should undergo the appropriate scan for it which is usually the basic ultrasound.
If an ultrasound scan is suspicious of a Bosniak cyst II to IV, a CT scan may be advised by the Urologist or recommended by the reporting radiologist.
As of now, things don't look bad at all as far as the kidney cyst is concerned.
Please let me know if there are any developments regarding which you may need advice
Regards
MRI Screeing for spine usually excludes kidney cyst
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
When MRI imaging of spine is done, the focus is usually only on the spine. The technician usually finished his job and the reporting is often done later. The kidneys being adjacent to spine are often picked up, though incompletely as in your case. So any finding like this cyst of kidneys on MRI is quite common, and the radiologist directs that should there be a requirement, the patient should undergo the appropriate scan for it which is usually the basic ultrasound.
If an ultrasound scan is suspicious of a Bosniak cyst II to IV, a CT scan may be advised by the Urologist or recommended by the reporting radiologist.
As of now, things don't look bad at all as far as the kidney cyst is concerned.
Please let me know if there are any developments regarding which you may need advice
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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