[Laparoscopic surgical treatment of simple cysts of the kidney].

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the efficacy of laparoscopic treatment of symptomatic renal cysts or cysts suspicious of malignancy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

10 patients (mean age: 58 years) were operated by laparoscopy either for compressive or symptomatic cysts (7 cases), or for cysts suspicious of malignancy (3 cases). The mean cyst diameter was 7.8 cm. All patients were evaluated by preoperative CT scan. There were 8 Bosniak type I and 3 Bosniak type II cysts.

RESULTS

The procedure was performed via an intraperitoneal approach (8 cases) or via a retroperitoneal approach (2 cases). The mean operating time was 92 min and the mean hospital stay was 5.4 days. One patient was operated (conversion to lumbotomy) for uncontrolled haemorrhage of the base of the cyst. The 10 cysts were found to be benign histologically. All 10 patients are asymptomatic (mean follow-up: 8.3 months) with disappearance of the cyst on the follow-up CT scan.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic treatment of renal cysts is feasible and effective. However, this treatment must be reserved for Bosniak type I and II cysts, associated with a low risk of malignancy.