Prevalence of symptoms in patients with simple renal cysts

few anecdotal reports have indicated simple renal
cysts as a possible cause of hypertension, flank
pain, macroscopic haematuria, and erythrocytosis.'-3
Many physicians also believe that simple renal cysts
commonly cause microscopic haematuria and mild
proteinuria. The frequency of association of simple
renal cysts with any of these symptoms, however, has
never been the object of controlled epidemiological
study, and certain important questions therefore lack
definite answers. For example, should further diagnostic
procedures (such as renal biopsy) be performed,
after simple renal cysts are found in a patient with mild
proteinuria or microscopic haematuria? Is the prevalence
of flank pain or macroscopic haematuria in
patients with simple renal cysts so high as to justify
invasive procedures (such as removal by surgery or the
application of alcohol)?