Unilateral cystic disease of the Kidney in the fetus.

This video shows the Unilateral cystic disease of the Kidney in the fetus.
Unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) is one of the commonest abnormalities detected by antenatal ultrasound with an incidence of approximately 1 in 3640 births. Previous reports have emphasized that most MCDK kidneys undergo involution during the first five years of life.
The tubules collect urine as the fetus grows in the womb. In kidney dysplasia, the tubules fail to branch out completely. Urine that would normally flow through the tubules has nowhere to go. Urine collects inside the affected kidney and forms fluid-filled sacs called cysts.
Adult polycystic kidney disease is characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance, diffuse bilateral cystic kidney disease, and onset during the young adult years.
Ultrasound is the most reliable, inexpensive, and non-invasive way to diagnose PKD. If someone at risk for PKD is older than 40 years and has a normal ultrasound of the kidneys, he or she probably does not have PKD.
If your kidney cyst changes and causes signs and symptoms, you may choose to have treatment at that time. Sometimes a simple kidney cyst goes away on its own.
A doctor punctures the kidney cyst by inserting a medical needle into the skin and into the cyst. Once the fluid is removed from the cyst, a doctor may take steps to prevent another occurrence by inserting a specialized medical solution into the cyst.
Renal cysts are common in old patients and usually remain untreated. Giant renal cysts measuring more than 15 cm in diameter and containing more than 1500 MLS of serous fluid are rarely seen.
The multicystic dysplastic kidney is a condition in which the kidney has been essentially replaced by multiple cysts. It is the result of abnormal fetal development of the kidney. There is little or no normal function to this kidney.
Normally, the ureter is a one-way street. Urine flowing the wrong way makes it difficult for the kidney to empty properly and causes the kidney to swell. Other less common causes of hydronephrosis in children include kidney stones, a tumor in the abdomen or pelvis, and problems with nerves that lead to the bladder.
As kidney cysts grow, hypertension and deterioration of kidney function develop, which adversely affect pregnancy. In addition, massively enlarged kidneys may occupy the abdominal and pelvic cavities, preventing the normal growth of the placenta and fetus.
Both kidneys are usually affected, but one may develop cysts earlier than the other. The cysts continue to grow until they compress the healthy tissue and stop the kidneys from working properly.
Ultrasonographic diagnostic criteria for ADPKD1 are as follows: At least 2 cysts in 1 kidney or 1 cyst in each kidney in an at-risk patient younger than 30 years. At least 2 cysts in each kidney in an at-risk patient aged 30-59 years. At least 4 cysts in each kidney for an at-risk patient aged 60 years or older.
A kidney ultrasound may be used to assess the size, location, and shape of the kidneys and related structures, such as the ureters and bladder. Ultrasound can detect cysts, tumors, abscesses, obstructions, fluid collection, and infection within or around the kidneys.
However, the loss in kidney function is usually very mild, and the life span is normal. Most people with one kidney live healthy, normal lives with few problems. In other words, one healthy kidney can work as well as two.
Most patients do not begin to develop problems until their 30s, and if the condition is well-managed can live a near-normal lifespan. Patients who receive kidney transplants can also increase their life expectancy.
You should call your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms listed above (pain in the side between the ribs and hip, stomach, or back; fever; frequent urination; blood in the urine, or dark urine). This might mean that you have a kidney cyst that has burst or become infected.
Kidney cysts are round, have a thin, clear wall, and range in size from microscopic to around 5 cm in diameter. These cysts can be associated with serious conditions that lead to impaired kidney function, but usually, they are what are referred to as simple kidney cysts, which do not tend to cause complications.
Some cysts are cancerous and early treatment is vital. If left untreated, benign cysts can cause serious complications including Infection - the cyst fills with bacteria and pus, and becomes an abscess. If the abscess bursts inside the body, there is a risk of blood poisoning (septicemia).
If it has become large enough to cause pain, discomfort, or high blood pressure, it may need to be surgically removed. Some complex cysts may also be removed due to an increased risk of kidney cancer or because the patient is experiencing a decline in kidney function.
However, if a suspicious mass or complex cyst is larger than 2.5cm, treatment is typically offered. Treatment for renal masses is predominately surgical.