[Lumboscopic treatment of simple renal cysts]

To assess feasibility and efficiency of lumboscopy in the treatment of simple renal cysts.

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.

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).

Lumboscopy is a safe and effective technique in the treatment of the symptomatic simple renal cysts with a low rate of complications and recurrence.