Kidney Cysts Vs Cancer. A tumor can be benign or cancerous malignant. While certain types of cancer can cause cysts cysts themselves are almost always benign.
If there is any history of kidney cancer in your family or cysts and especially bi lateral ones in the kidneys or if you are quite young insist on getting a thorough genetic workup. Patients who are found to have cysts on kidney are very worried wondering whether kidney cysts are the same as kidney tumors. Most people s first thought is cancer when they notice a new lump.
Cysts in kidney are more common as people age.
Similar non inherited mutations can lead to kidney cancer just by sheer accident out of the blue due to aging environmental insults and so on. The cyst is usually characterized by round pouch of thin walled smooth tissue filled with fluid. Hence it is very important to have a clear identification between them. While certain types of cancer can cause cysts cysts themselves are almost always benign.