Kidney Cyst: What It Means on Your Ultrasound (and What a Simple Cyst Is)

Seeing kidney cyst on a report is scary, but most are benign. Here it is.

What a kidney cyst is

It is a fluid-filled sac in the kidney. The simple cyst is very common and usually benign, especially with age.

How it's described on ultrasound

A simple cyst looks round, thin-walled, without solid content and with posterior enhancement. Those features are reassuring.

When it's monitored

Cysts with thick walls, septa or solid parts are described and sometimes followed. The radiologist classifies it.

The method's view

Imaging tells fluid from solid well — that's why ultrasound is so useful here.

Educational content to help you understand your report. Not a diagnosis and not a substitute for your doctor/radiologist, who sees the full image.