Abstract
Two cases of giant polycystic kidneys are reported. Case 1: a 47-year-old man who complained of dyspnea and abdominal fullness caused by giant polycystic kidneys, was treated by intraabdominal and percutaneous puncture of renal cysts. His symptoms and azotemia improved temporarily, but he died suddenly because of aortic and inferior vena caval compression by hepato-renal cysts. The left kidney weighed 6.1kg, the right 6.2kg., at autopsy. Case 2: a 27-year-old man had dyspnea, abdominal fullness and azotemia due to giant polycystic kidneys. He was treated by hemodialysis, followed by nephrectomy without morbidity. The nephrectomized kidney weighed 4.8kg. The effect of percutaneous puncture of polycystic kidneys is temporary. Therefore nephrectomy should be performed for relief of compressive symptoms in the setting giant polycystic kidney.
