CURRENT CONCEPTS AND CONTROVERSIES IN IMAGING OF RENAL CYSTIC DISEASES

A renal cyst is a dilated fluid-filled segment of a nephron or collecting tubule. A cystic kidney contains three or more cysts. Renal cystic disease is the illness resulting from a cystic kidney. Renal cystic disease compromises a diverse group of heritable, developmental, and acquired disorders. Because of this variability, no single classification is universally accepted. One practical classification, however, which is a modification of several that have been previously promulgated is listed: Polycystic Kidney Disease Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease Cysts of the Renal Medulla Medullary sponge kidney Medullary cystic disease Malformed Kidney Multicystic dysplastic kidney Renal Cystic Disease Associated with Multiple Renal Neoplasms von Hippel-Lindau disease Acquired cystic kidney disease Tuberous sclerosis This classification is composed of four major categories and includes the most clinically significant renal cystic diseases, which are discussed in this article.