Cysts Incompletely Characterized??? - Kidney Disorders Message Board

TerriB32561 · 08-12-2008, 01:33 PM

HI,

I had an MRI done back in May for some back issues and foot drop. I was sort of surprised because the neurologist made no mention of the second portion of the findings and impression

When I went to visit my Primary Care Physician, I mentioned it to him, and he said he had no idea. He requested fax him the MRI results right away while I was there.

He was furious he was notified of this. I said well, maybe it's nothing, but I could be walking around with something major and not aware of it.

Impression #2:

There is a cystic structure on the left adnexa, most consistent with a complicated ovarian cyst.

I've had cysts on my ovaries before. Even one when I was 13 years old and it had ruptured and I had surgery. That is not a surprise to me...they come and go. I'm sort of bothered by the complicated portion of it.

He has ordered an Pelvic ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound too.

The second portion of this paragraph says this:

There is also a cystic structure at the upper pole of the right kidney, which is incompletely characterized.

So he has me going to have an ultrasound for the whole abdomen just to make sure. I never knew an MRI could not tell what something was. I'm a bit scared of the imcompletely characterized part.

Has anyone ever had this before and can put my mind at ease as to what it might be?

Thanks,

Terri

estria · 08-13-2008, 06:03 AM

Hello Terri,

Actually the ultrasound will be able to give them more information as to what the cysts contain. This is why your doctor ordered both an abdominal ultrasound and a transvaginal one. The complex cyst that you have on your ovary can be any one of many types of cysts and the ultrasound radiologist will be able to tell you more. For example, dermoid cysts can contain hair and teeth inside them. Most cysts are more of an annoyance than a danger but you will probably be advised to have the complex cyst removed, unless you have something like a hemmorraghic cyst (a cyst that bleeds into itself) which can go away on its own. If you are advised to have surgery, it would probably be by laparoscopy (a day surgery) which has about a week recovery time (very short). The cyst on your kidney may be unrelated to the one on your ovary and the ultrasound will be able to see more.

Cysts are extremely common but they cause a world of anxiety. I know because I have had an 8 cm simple cyst (as opposed to a complex one) on my left ovary for almost a year. In my case, surgery is not considered necessary (at least not yet) but I must say that it is not easy knowing I have this thing inside me. As we age our bodies will develop imperfections such as this and sometimes we just have to live with it.

I hope all goes well on your ultrasounds. Your external will require you drink lots of water and your internal (transvaginal) will require that you have an empty bladder. The external will be able to see around the cysts as well as look at the cysts themselves and the internal will mainly be looking at your ovarian cyst using a higher resolution and perhaps also with a doppler flow analysis which sees if there are any blood vessels that are feeding the cyst (I think .. note I am not a medical professional and am speaking from experience so take what I say with a grain of salt).

Come back and let us know how everything goes and try to take it easy as you wait to have more information. Many of us on these boards know what this is like but worrying yourself to death is not only useless but counterproductive (yeah yeah I know ... easier said than done).

All the best.

Estria

TerriB32561 · 08-22-2008, 10:37 PM

Ok, I've had these tests performed. They weren't all that bad. They told me that the doctor would have the results within three to five business days. Three days have passed. I should hear something no later than Tuesday. I'm getting kind of worried, though, because I'm awfully nauseated lately...seems like quite a bit. I've had a bit of diarrhea......then constipation........more of the first than latter.........my stomach has been hurting too. I attributed that to Naproxen so I stopped taking it......but it still happens. I'm awfully anxious.........never before...maybe just because of the way im feeling im scared it's something and im praying it's not.

I'll write back on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Thanks for your reply or replies.

Terri

estria · 08-23-2008, 06:06 AM

Hello Terri,

Try to hang in there over the weekend but if you find that you are feeling really sick, don't be afraid to go to the emergency and be sure to tell them about the complex ovarian cyst so that they know where to start looking.

Unfortunately, even benign cysts can cause ovarian cancer like symptoms so just because you are having symptoms it does not necessarily mean that you are walking around with OvC. Have they done a CA-125 test ? If so, see if you can get this result as soon as possible. Although this test is not very reliable due to the high risk of false positives and false negatives, if the number is super high, it may give an indication of a problem.

Also, if you had an ultrasound done, you should be able to get this result right away as the radiologist is usually able to see what is there immediately and his or her report is typed up on the same day.

Try not to panic. A day or two is not going to make a difference so don't get even more anxious about the situation than you already are.

When I was first diagnosed with my 8 cm ovarian cyst last september I had a horrible bout of diarrhea and was so anxious that it had something to do with the cyst. At that time I was also experiencing irregular bleeding. As it turns out, the diarrhea was due to a bad scallop that I had eaten and the bleeding was due to long term pill use (after I went off the pill, the bleeding stopped). I still remember how panicked I felt and how I thought that no one was doing enough to help me.

I would call the doctor's office on Monday or whenever they are next open (if it is today, call them today) and explain your symptoms in addition to mentioning the fact that you have had tests in relation to a complex ovarian cyst. They will hopefully be able to put a rush on the results so that you can stop being so anxious. In the meantime, if you find that your symptoms begin to get worse or if you start to run a fever, go to the emergency and see if they can do something right away.

As difficult as it is at the moment, try to relax and do something that is going to take your mind off of this situation. Go see a movie, read an amazing book, invite some of your friends over for dinner, take your husband or significant other out to dinner or for a walk or ANYTHING that will temporarily take your mind off of this.

Ovarian cancer is a very rare disease and benign ovarian cysts (including complex ones) are incredibly common with and without symptoms so what is the most likely outcome ? Common sense will get you through so hang in there.

All the best and come back and let us know how your tests turn out.

TerriB32561 · 08-28-2008, 08:07 AM

Thank you all for your responses, esp. the one recently. It helped me relax somewhat. You are right......boy I was worried, and here comes Monday and no call. So I called the hospital to find out if they had my results. They said they sent them to the doctor the day after I had the tests done. I'm bad like that...very impatient.

I called my doctor's office and they called me back. Well, turns out, I have no cyst on my right kidney but a cyst on my right ovary.......not too big in size.......and the one on the left that was complicated is now a cyst.....about the same size. I was told not to worry, that I was going to be fine.

I've had ovarian cysts all my life, they come and go....one ruptured when I was 13. I did not lose my ovary. This particular time though I have bouts of pain and discomfort with these cysts. I'm so relieved it turned out to be nothing like i was worried about you.

I have to learn to calm down and take it as what will be will be.

Thanks again,

Terri