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Benign Multilocular Cyst of the Kidney

Definition

Benign multilocular cyst is a cystic lesion of the kidney in children (Cystic nephroma). The cysts are separated by septa from each other.

Diagnosis

Ultrasound, intravenous urography, CT or MRI of the abdomen. Neither test can differenciate between benign multilocular cyst, multilocular cyst with partially differentiated Wilms tumor or cystic Wilms tumor.

Treatment of the Benign Multilocular Cyst

A multilocular cyst in a child's kidney may be a benign multilocular cyst, but also a cystic Wilms' tumor. Since imaging cannot differenciate these disease entities, partial nephrectomy or nephrectomy is necessary, depending on tumor size (Okada, 2003).

References

Okada, T.; Yoshida, H.; Matsunaga, T.; Kouchi, K.; Ohtsuka, Y.; Saitou, T.; Horie, H. & Ohnuma, N.

Nephron-sparing surgery for multilocular cyst of the kidney in a child.
J Pediatr Surg, 2003, 38, 1689–1692

  Deutsche Version: Benigne multilokuläre Nierenzyste