Unilateral autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease with co-existent renal cell carcinoma: A rare entity

Unilateral Cystic Kidney Disease in a Young Female

Unilateral renal cystic disease has been mostly reported in older male patients; however, this case is novel as the youngest reported case in the literature and in a female patient. We present a 22-year-old female with no past medical history and no family history of renal disease that was incidentally found to have unilateral renal cystic disease on computed tomography imaging. The patient’s renal function was not impaired and the cystic kidney was found to be functioning appropriately on an intravenous pyelogram. The unilateral cystic disease is benign but must be differentiated from autosomal dominant polycystic disease to prevent morbidity and mortality.

Case report: Atypical polycystic kidney disease

Atypical or unilateral polycystic kidney disease is a rare entity that is found incidentally and is characterized on imaging as asymmetric or unilateral distribution of cysts confined to the kidneys. We present a case of an incidental finding of atypical polycystic kidney disease in a 72-year-old male. Computed tomography imaging showed asymmetric distribution of cysts only in the kidneys and the patient had no genitourinary symptoms, had normal renal function, and did not have a family history of renal disease. Although considered to be benign, rare cases of progression of atypical polycystic kidney disease to bilateral polycystic kidney disease has been documented in the literature, which portends a worse prognosis. It is important for clinicians to be aware of this entity so that patients can be monitored periodically for progression of disease.