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Polycystic kidney disease |
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Polycystic kidney disease
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U | Polycystic kidney disease is a disorder in which
many clusters of cysts develop primarily within your
kidneys. Cysts are noncancerous (benign), round sacs
that contain water-like fluid. They vary in size
from tiny sacs to sacs large enough to hold several
quarts of fluid. Having a benign kidney cyst is common. A benign, simple kidney cyst
doesn't require treatment. And having one or more
kidney cysts doesn't mean you have polycystic kidney
disease.
Screening and diagnosis Several
diagnostic methods are available to detect the size and number of cysts
as well as to evaluate the amount of healthy kidney tissue.
Ultrasound
examination.
This is the most common diagnostic method. A wand-like device called
a transducer is placed on your body. It emits inaudible sound waves
that are reflected back to the transducer — like sonar. A computer
translates those reflected sound waves into a moving image of your
kidneys.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan.
As you lie on a movable table, you're guided into a big
doughnut-shaped device that passes very thin X-ray beams through
your body. Your doctor is able to see your kidneys in
two-dimensional "slices."
Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
As you lie inside a large cylinder, magnetic fields and radio waves
generate cross-sectional views of your kidneys.
Genetic
testing.
Gene linkage analysis involves special blood tests for you and for
at least three family members who are known either to have or not to
have polycystic kidney disease. Then, the results of your blood
tests are compared with the results of the tests of your family
members. Because this test is so expensive, it's often only used
when one family member is considering donating a kidney to another
family member.
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