Kidney Cysts

[Kidneyman]

Hello I am a 33 year old male. I have had 14 kidney stones since I turned 30 years old. The Dr.'s first started out by saying that they were from calcium then after about the 8th one they had me do a 24 hr. urine screen. When I got the results from that screen they told me they were from cokes. I have recently been back to the emergency room and that is when they found the cysts with a C/T scan. The size was between 1 and 2 cm. I have not yet been to my urologist. I am having pain in my right upper and lower flank it fills exactly like a stone. I have had blood in my urine but no stone. My qustions are as follows.
1.) with my history of stones, could the stones be associated with the cysts.
2.) The pain ggoes and comes and I can not associate it with any thing but they kidney.
3.) What can I do the er doctor has told me that I am not having pain in my side from the cysts.
Please Help

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) If the cysts are due to polycystic kidney disease, 20 percent of these patients have complications due to stones.

2) You may want to ensure there is no stones present (which can be seen during a non-contrast CT scan).  If the pain continues, you may want to consider higher resolution imaging - such as an MRI.

3) I would suggest a referral to a nephrologist or urologist.  If the pain continues, a biopsy may be discussed and considered.  If stones continue to be a problem, there are medications that can be considered to prevent stone formation.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[Kanelombe]

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