Maria Mitchell23 said:It’s not about blood work... it was an ultrasound... honestly, I’m not even sure where else to ask...
So, I just had an abdominal and kidney ultrasound...
Everything looks fine, except for the kidneys part where it says:
Kidneys are in normal position, normal size, with appropriate parenchymal thickness.
In the middle third of the left kidney sinus, there is a hypoechoic zone isoechogenic with the renal parenchyma, corresponding to a hypertrophied Bertin column.
At the transition from the middle to the proximal third of the left kidney, a parenchymal cyst measuring up to 12mm is visible.
What does any of this mean? Thanks!!
The "Bertin column" thing is basically just a term for a mass of cortex that somehow connects—or divides, if you prefer—the renal pyramids. Usually, that column isn't supposed to pop out like that on imaging like a CT scan or an ultrasound, but in your case, it shows up clearly. Doctors have to note it because it can sometimes look like other types of kidney growths that require totally different medical approaches.
As for the cyst, it’s just a cyst—a structure with a wall and some thin fluid inside. They can stem from all sorts of things, but if you aren't feeling any other symptoms, there’s usually no reason to panic. Most people just keep an eye on them through follow-up scans.
Of course, like anything in medicine, you've got to keep track of changes. If the size or consistency shifts, or if you start noticing clinical symptoms that point toward kidney issues, you definitely need to sit down with your doctor to figure out the next steps.
@stormygull21/">@
@stormygull21An antistreptolysin titer basically measures antibody levels against Group A Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus. This is the kind of stuff that doesn't typically build resistance to antibiotics, so it usually needs to be cleared out with beta-lactam antibiotics, like penicillin or similar ones.
Which antibiotic were you on during those seven days?
Do you have any allergies to antibiotics or medications in general?
@Rebecca Sullivan77/">@
@Rebecca Sullivan77
The wording you used here describes a carcinoma based on its histological type. It sounds like it was likely a villous tubular adenoma (which is a name for a primarily benign growth) that underwent malignant alteration—meaning the cells changed from benign to malignant or invasive carcinoma cells.
It's hard to say what the treatment plan will be. That mostly depends on your family history and, more importantly, whether the resection margins are clear.
Your best bet is to have a straight conversation with your medical team. Generally speaking, with carcinomas, if the surgery wasn't radical enough or if the margins come back positive, they go with adjuvant chemotherapy. But again, that’s not a guarantee for your specific situation.
@Hannah Kelly/">@
@Hannah Kelly
Don't think I'm ignoring you; I just don't know your full medical history. Immunology is a pretty deep rabbit hole, so I'd rather leave those specific questions to a colleague who specializes in it.
Best,
