Renal complex cyst requires MRI with contrast

Posted by hello1234 @hello1234, Dec 7, 2021

Hi all,
I hope everyone is doing well. On my ultrasound this week, it was discovered that my new transplant kidney has a "complex" cyst. Has anyone been diagnosed with a complex cyst? If so , please share your experience. Did you have a cat scan or MRI to determine if it's cancerous? Your diagnosis and your treatment?
Thanks everyone for any information or experience in this you may have!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

Thank you so much @rosemarya ❤ I really appreciate your gift of experience and a lot of wisdom. I know that you totally understand how I am feeling since you have walked a similar path that lead to transplant as our miracle. Thank you for always being there for me with your calm and caring heart.

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@hello1234

Hi @contentandwell 😊 I hope all is well with you!
Remember, this new PRE-EXPOSURE monoclonal antibodies shots protocol will be different from the covid vaccine shot protocol.
The pre-exposure monoclonal antibodies are for the immune suppressed community that had no antibody response to the vaccine. They will be giving us antibodies that our suppressed immune system could not make for ourselves when given the vaccine.
A healthy normal immune system sees a vaccine and creates antibodies.
Only 2% of the population will need these protective antibodies shots (transplant, cancer, etc).
They are currently used POST-exposure to covid for high risk patients, but for transplant patients we will receive these shots BEFORE any exposure to the disease to add a layer of protection against severe disease and death.
I forget JK. Was your body able to produce antibodies after your Pfizer, Moderna or J&J covid vaccine shots?

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Thanks, @hello1234 my transplant center sent a message over the portal explaining the monoclonal antibodies and saying they do not have them yet so please do not call. It definitely does sound like a great step forward for those of us who are immunocompromised.

My antibody number was around 2200 or 2300, I forget which. That sounds good but I’ve heard it is still pretty low. I will be eligible for my booster (4th shot) on February 10th.

I’ve heard of a number of post-transplant who did have Covid but not severe cases which is a little encouraging but they were a lot younger than I am.
JK

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@contentandwell

Thanks, @hello1234 my transplant center sent a message over the portal explaining the monoclonal antibodies and saying they do not have them yet so please do not call. It definitely does sound like a great step forward for those of us who are immunocompromised.

My antibody number was around 2200 or 2300, I forget which. That sounds good but I’ve heard it is still pretty low. I will be eligible for my booster (4th shot) on February 10th.

I’ve heard of a number of post-transplant who did have Covid but not severe cases which is a little encouraging but they were a lot younger than I am.
JK

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Good morning @contentandwell 😊 I am so excited that your transplant hospital sent a message over the portal (even though it was to inform that they didn't have it in stock yet. LOL). It tells me that the both the transplant hospitals and patients are aware that this is an important solution. The patients are obviously calling them in volume! Which hospital are you involved with? Did they give any further details?
It sounds like you are getting a very nice response from the vaccine! I was also happy to hear that you know transplant patients that had a mild version of the actual disease. I don't want to risk it since it was a "mild" infection that killed my kidney and required my transplant.
Did your portal message say when they may be getting stock, how it may be distributed, will they let you know in the portal when it arrives?
Thank you again @contentandwell I am super excited that you received a message!! ❤❤

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@hello1234, When you started this discussion, you had just learned that your new transplanted kidney has a "complex" cyst. It has been a while, and I am wondering how you are getting on and whether you had any further scan or tests. What are the doctors saying about this diagnosis? It here going to be any future treatment or follow-up?

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@rosemarya

@hello1234, When you started this discussion, you had just learned that your new transplanted kidney has a "complex" cyst. It has been a while, and I am wondering how you are getting on and whether you had any further scan or tests. What are the doctors saying about this diagnosis? It here going to be any future treatment or follow-up?

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Hi @rosemarya ...it's so wonderful to hear from you!! 😊 Thank you so much for checking in! I am very happy to report that I feel great and my blood and urine tests are looking good.
So far, my renal complex cyst has had no effect on the kidney function. Thank goodness!
I am scheduled for a follow up ultrasound at my local hospital on May 4th to see if there has been any change in 6 months. That test will be important to see if further investigation is needed like an ultrasound with contrast. I don't like the idea of punishing my new kidney with a contract agent if it's not necessary. Not a big fan of contrast.
I think I may have asked you before, but I forget your answer. After 12 years, what is your approximate creatinine and BUN?

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Hi all,
Has anyone been diagnosed with a "complex cyst" (not a simple cyst) on your kidney after an ultrasound?
Did you need an MRI with contrast to diagnose whether it was cancer?
I am concerned about the complex cyst and I am concerned about using contrast for the MRI.
Has anyone had experience with either?
Thanks everyone!

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@hello1234

Hi all,
Has anyone been diagnosed with a "complex cyst" (not a simple cyst) on your kidney after an ultrasound?
Did you need an MRI with contrast to diagnose whether it was cancer?
I am concerned about the complex cyst and I am concerned about using contrast for the MRI.
Has anyone had experience with either?
Thanks everyone!

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Oh my @hello1234, I see you are still dealing with the complex cyst on your transplanted kidney. I moved this recent post to your earlier discussion and it now appears in both the Transplants group and the Kidney & Bladder group.

Perhaps fellow members of the Kidney group like @azkidney57 @rensacb @predictable and @gingerw may have some thoughts to add.

Did you have an MRI back in January when this was first discovered? Is this now a second MRI with contrast?

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@colleenyoung

Oh my @hello1234, I see you are still dealing with the complex cyst on your transplanted kidney. I moved this recent post to your earlier discussion and it now appears in both the Transplants group and the Kidney & Bladder group.

Perhaps fellow members of the Kidney group like @azkidney57 @rensacb @predictable and @gingerw may have some thoughts to add.

Did you have an MRI back in January when this was first discovered? Is this now a second MRI with contrast?

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Hi @colleenyoung 😊
Thank you for checking in! Yes, my local nephrologist has continued to follow up with regularly scheduled ultrasounds looking for any changes to my renal complex cyst on my native kidney. So far, it appears stable with no increase in size.
But at my latest visit at Mayo, they are suggesting an MRI with contrast to obtain a more definitive diagnosis.
My concern about getting an MRI with contrast is
#1 Concern for my new transplanted kidney to deal with the stress of clearing the contrast
#2 My transplanted kidney showed "mild calieltasis" on the latest ultrasound. I am not sure if my current BK virus is causing this new irritation.
#3 I was just diagnosed with BK virus. So I am afraid that there is a lot assaulting my new transplanted kidney and I hate the idea of adding contrast into the mix. That said, if this "complex cyst" on my native kidney is cancer, I certainly want to know so I can take action.
I am curious if anyone has had any experience with MRI and contrast and if all went well.
(Also, if anyone has any experience with a renal complex cyst).
I was sitting at home upsetting myself about the MRI contrast and I thought maybe discussing this and hearing some stories from my kidney and transplant buddies on Connect may help. 😊
P.S. Of course, I am also very concerned about my BK virus so it feels like there is a lot going on right now.

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@hello1234

Hi @colleenyoung 😊
Thank you for checking in! Yes, my local nephrologist has continued to follow up with regularly scheduled ultrasounds looking for any changes to my renal complex cyst on my native kidney. So far, it appears stable with no increase in size.
But at my latest visit at Mayo, they are suggesting an MRI with contrast to obtain a more definitive diagnosis.
My concern about getting an MRI with contrast is
#1 Concern for my new transplanted kidney to deal with the stress of clearing the contrast
#2 My transplanted kidney showed "mild calieltasis" on the latest ultrasound. I am not sure if my current BK virus is causing this new irritation.
#3 I was just diagnosed with BK virus. So I am afraid that there is a lot assaulting my new transplanted kidney and I hate the idea of adding contrast into the mix. That said, if this "complex cyst" on my native kidney is cancer, I certainly want to know so I can take action.
I am curious if anyone has had any experience with MRI and contrast and if all went well.
(Also, if anyone has any experience with a renal complex cyst).
I was sitting at home upsetting myself about the MRI contrast and I thought maybe discussing this and hearing some stories from my kidney and transplant buddies on Connect may help. 😊
P.S. Of course, I am also very concerned about my BK virus so it feels like there is a lot going on right now.

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@hello1234 I had replied to you under another discussion about veggies and CKD https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/veggies-that-are-good-for-ckd3/?pg=3#comment-745514

I believe your concern is well-founded. I never wanted to do anything that would subject my native kidneys to "tank", and my oncologist agreed that he wanted a cautious approach. In years past, I have had contrast, when my eGFR was much higher. My complex cyst is under observation with an extended timeline at this point. Previously they had thought it was a tumor.

Please be gentle on yourself.
Ginger

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@gingerw

@hello1234 I had replied to you under another discussion about veggies and CKD https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/veggies-that-are-good-for-ckd3/?pg=3#comment-745514

I believe your concern is well-founded. I never wanted to do anything that would subject my native kidneys to "tank", and my oncologist agreed that he wanted a cautious approach. In years past, I have had contrast, when my eGFR was much higher. My complex cyst is under observation with an extended timeline at this point. Previously they had thought it was a tumor.

Please be gentle on yourself.
Ginger

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Thank you @gingerw 😊 I appreciate your information and experience with both the MRI contrast and your complex cyst!
I think I am going to need to discuss all the pros and cons with transplant. I am pretty sure that once you have a transplant, they feel confident that your GFR and kidney function can handle the contrast with no adverse effects. But with my recent diagnosis of BK virus and mild calieltasis, the contrast idea is really worrying me.
Thank you again for always being there for me Ginger! I will definitely keep you posted.

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