What is the difference between a kidney cyst and a kidney tumor? Is there a name for either disease?

Answer by  Travis404607 (3916)

A kidney cyst is a growth protruding out from the kidney wall, whereas a tumor typically stays closer to the wall. The cellular makeup also determines what type of growth it is. Tumors can be Renal Cancer when they are malignant.

Answer by  wyeth (435)

Cysts are fluid filled spaces.Many kidneys have a few but in Polycystic Kidney Disease they can largely replace and destroy the normal tissue. Tumors are solid growths of abnormal tissue and can be benign and fairly harmless, or malignant such as Renal Cell Carcinoma or Cancer. Wilm's Tumor is a kidney cancer mainly of children under 10 years of age.