Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose simple kidney cysts include:

• Imaging tests. Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, a computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are often used to investigate simple kidney cysts. Imaging tests can help your doctor determine whether a kidney mass is a cyst or a tumor.
• Kidney function tests. Testing a sample of your blood may reveal whether a kidney cyst is impairing your kidney function.