Aim: To assess feasibility and efficiency of lumboscopy in the treatment of simple renal cysts.
Methods: We report 12 cases of patients presenting symptomatic simple renal cysts treated by lumboscopy from January 2000 to December 2004. The mean age was 57 years (43-72). They were 11 women and one man. The main revealing sign was pain in each case. A mass was found in 2 cases (16 %). Ultrasonography was realized in all cases. Computed Tomography was realized in 4 cases (33 %). It was a unique cyst in 9 cases (75 %), a double cysts in 2 cases (17 %) and 4 cysts in 1 case (8 %). The mean size of the cysts was 7.7 cm (5-16). A parapyelic cyst was found in one case. All the patients were operated through a retroperitoneal approach. Excision of cyst dome was made.
Results: The mean operating time was 80 min (50-160). No intraoperative complication was noted. The mean hospital stay was 3 days (1-4). All the cysts were found to be benign histologically. No recurrence is noted with a mean follow-up of 21 months (5-31).
Conclusion: Lumboscopy is a safe and effective technique in the treatment of the symptomatic simple renal cysts with a low rate of complications and recurrence.