Diagnostic workup and treatment of multilocular cystic kidney. Difficulties in differential diagnosis

The diagnostic pitfalls of multilocular renal cystic disease are illustrated by the medical histories of 4 patients. Although ultrasonography and CAT scans are considered reliable diagnostic methods in cystic renal disease, in the 4 cases reported these methods could not give the correct diagnosis. In multilocular cystic disease, segmental excision is the preferred treatment, if frozen section does not show malignancy. However, frozen section done intraoperatively can give misleading results, as illustrated in these cases.