Acquired cystic disease and tumors in kidneys of hemodialysis patients.

During the period 1975-81, autopsies were performed in 15 patients who had been treated by long-term hemodialysis and who had no clinical or family history of polycystic disease. Ten of the patients were found to have bilateral cystic disease of the kidneys. In 3 of the 10 patients with cystic kidneys, tumors were found: a solid tubular adenoma in one, multiple bilateral papillary adenomas in another, and clear cell tubular carcinoma in the third. Hemorrhages were not detected in any of the patients. The results of our study confirmed that patients on hemodialysis have a very high incidence of acquired cystic disease and are at high risk of developing neoplasms in their contracted kidneys.