American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test 2025 - Free Pathology Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is characterized by the formation of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys. This genetic disorder leads to the progressive enlargement of the kidneys as the cysts grow, which can result in a range of complications, including hypertension and kidney failure.

The cysts in PKD develop from the renal tubules, causing them to distend with fluid. Over time, the accumulation of these cysts can impair renal function and may also affect other organs. In contrast to conditions like Renal Cell Carcinoma, which involves the abnormal proliferation of cells leading to tumors rather than cysts, or Acute Tubular Necrosis, which is primarily a form of kidney injury without cyst formation, PKD specifically features the presence of cysts and is distinctly defined by this characteristic. Chronic Glomerulonephritis, on the other hand, is often linked to inflammation and scarring of the glomeruli, not cyst formation. Thus, the identification of fluid-filled cysts in the kidney is what defines Polycystic Kidney Disease.