Benign cortical cyst of the kidney

Benign cortical cyst of the kidney is an extremely common benign kidney finding.

General

• Very common.
• Benign.

Gross

• Thin-walled cyst - usually filled with serous fluid.
• Usually unilocular.

Microscopic

Features:

• Simple epithelial lining without atypia.
• May have clear cells.

Note:

• Do not have clear cells within the wall of the cyst.

DDx:

• Localized cystic disease of the kidney.
• Cystic neoplasms/renal cell carcinoma:
  • Cystic clear cell renal cell carcinoma - thick septa with clear cells.
  • Multicystic renal cell neoplasm of low malignant potential - thin septa, clear cells within stroma.
• Other cystic kidney diseases.

See also

• Cystic kidney diseases.
• Bosniak classification of renal cysts.