Cystic Kidney Disease Differential Diagnosis Table

Cystic Kidney Disease Differential Diagnosis Table:

A cyst is a fluid- or pus-filled sac that can form anywhere in the body, including the kidneys. Cystic kidney disease is a condition where cysts form inside the kidneys. This formation leads to the alteration of normal kidney functioning, like filtering waste from blood and urine formation.
The cyst formation can be acquired or inherited and can affect people at any age. Clinical presentation may vary among individuals. The most common symptoms are pain in the abdomen and back, headache, hematuria, and frequent or diminished urination. Other signs include high blood pressure, frequent kidney stones, and infections.

How To Distinguish Cystic Kidney Disease From Other Diseases

Distinguish Polycystic Kidney Disease from Cystic Kidney Disease – Diagnosis

Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited condition that results in numerous cysts inside the kidney.

• Multiple cyst formations cause bilateral kidney enlargement. This does not occur in cystic kidney disease.
• Cystic kidney disease can start at any age, whereas polycystic kidney disease most commonly presents in 30- to 40-year-olds.
• Polycystic kidney disease can also produce cysts anywhere in the body, including the liver. This is not common with cystic kidney disease.

Distinguish Simple Renal Cysts from Cystic Kidney Disease – Diagnosis

A simple renal cyst refers to the formation of a cyst inside the renal cortex.

• A simple renal cyst is usually asymptomatic and doesn’t produce symptoms like abdominal pain. Cystic kidney disease is symptomatic and patients usually present with pain.
• High blood pressure is a common finding in people with cystic kidney disease. This is not present with simple renal cysts.

Distinguish Acquired Cystic Kidney Disease from Cystic Kidney Disease – Diagnosis

Acquired cystic kidney disease is another cystic condition of the kidney usually present in dialysis patients. It is not inherited or congenital.

• Acquired cystic kidney disease is usually present in patients with diagnosed chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis treatment. This is not always present in cystic kidney disease.
• Cystic kidney disease can be present in younger individuals, but acquired cystic kidney disease is usually present in older ones.
• In cystic kidney disease, the patient is healthy at the beginning of the disease presentation, and renal function slowly deteriorates. Acquired cystic kidney disease is always diagnosed in people with already diminished renal function.

Distinguish Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney from Cystic Kidney Disease – Diagnosis

Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) is a condition in which kidneys are not developed properly inside the womb, and multiple cysts develop inside the kidney.

• Most of the cases of MCDK are unilateral, so patients are usually asymptomatic, while cystic kidney disease is symptomatic.
• People with MCDK are born with the disease, whereas cystic kidney disease patients are born with a healthy set of kidneys, and kidney function worsens over time.

Distinguish Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease from Cystic Kidney Disease – Diagnosis

Medullary cystic kidney disease refers to the formation of cysts in the medulla of the kidney.

• Medullary cystic kidney disease rarely presents with pain, while cystic kidney disease produces pain in the abdomen and back.
• People with medullary cystic kidney disease sometimes complain about pruritus and numbness of hands and feet. This is not common in cystic kidney disease.

Distinguish Medullary Sponge Kidney Disease from Cystic Kidney Disease – Diagnosis

Medullary sponge kidney disease refers to the formation of small cysts inside collecting tubules and tubules inside the medulla during fetal development.

• Cystic kidney disease can be present before 18 years of age, whereas medullary sponge kidney disease always presents itself after 20 years of age.
• Cystic kidney disease is linked to increasing blood pressure, while medullary sponge kidney disease does not cause hypertension.

Distinguish Tuberculosis of The Kidney from Cystic Kidney Disease – Diagnosis

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. It can affect various organs, including kidneys, referred to as renal tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis produces symptoms like fever and night sweats. These symptoms are not found in people with cystic kidney disease.
• Abdominal and back pain is a very common symptom in people having cystic kidney disease. This is not a common finding in people with tuberculosis.

Distinguish Nephronophthisis from Cystic Kidney Disease – Diagnosis

Nephronophthisis is an inherited condition that results in cyst formation in the corticomedullary region of the kidneys.

• Nephronophthisis usually produces anemia in patients. This is not associated with cystic kidney disease patients.
• Cystic kidney disease commonly produces symptoms like pain and hematuria, whereas this is not common in nephronophthisis patients.

Common Red Flags With Cystic Kidney Disease

Cystic kidney disease carries a lot of complications like renal stones, urinary tract infection, cyst infection, and increased blood pressure. Patients usually present with extreme pain due to obstruction caused by renal stones, infected cysts, or burst cysts. People with cystic kidney disease suffer the loss of kidney function slowly with time, and eventually, it leads to kidney failure. With kidneys not working properly, blood is not filtered out properly, leading to other conditions like metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, anemia, cardiovascular disease, and even stroke.
GFR rate is closely monitored in patients with cystic kidney disease. A sudden drop in GFR is a sign of kidney failure, which can lead to other complications. Sudden intense pain in the back and blood in urine is a sign of cyst infection or cyst bursting.