Computed tomography of high density renal cysts in adult polycystic kidney disease

In a review of abdominal CT in patients with adult polycystic kidney disease 24 patients were found to have single or multiple high density renal cysts on nonenhanced studies. All cases showed well defined, homogeneous high density cysts (56-98 HU), with smooth contours, sharp interfaces with renal parenchyma, and lack of contrast enhancement. The benign nature of these lesions was established by tissue examination in five patients and followup CT in four others. In the remaining 15 patients the benign nature of these lesions was assumed based on the constellation of CT and clinical findings.