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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf a simple kidney cyst was discovered during an imaging test for another disease or condition, you may be worried about what it means for your health. At your next appointment, be prepared with a list of questions for your doctor. Discussing simple kidney cysts with your doctor may help put your mind at ease and help you feel more in control of your condition.
Here are some questions that might help facilitate a discussion with your doctor:
- What is the size of my kidney cyst?
- Is my kidney cyst new or has it been visible on other scans?
- Is my kidney cyst likely to grow?
- Can my kidney cyst hurt my kidney?
- I have these unexplained symptoms. Could they be caused by a kidney cyst?
- Does my kidney cyst need to be removed?
- What are my treatment options?
- What are the potential risks of each treatment option?
- Should I be alert for signs or symptoms that indicate my kidney cyst is growing?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
- What will determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?
- Torres VE, et al. Cystic diseases of the kidney. In: Brenner BM. Brenner & Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-1-4160-3105-5&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3105-5..X5001-4--TOP. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- McAninch JW. Disorders of the kidney. In: Tanagho EA, et al. Smith's General Urology. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=21. Accessed April 18, 2010.
- Simple kidney cysts. National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/cysts/index.htm. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- The kidneys and how they work. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/. Accessed April 20, 2010.
- Castle EP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. April 22, 2010.
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