I am trying to determine in laymans terms what the following results from a recent abdominal ultrasound might be indicative of:  Both kidneys demonstrate cortical thinning possibly on the basis of renal medical disease. On the left side there is a 14mm long axis exophytic cortical cyst. The left kidney is slightly smaller in overall size when compared to the right with a long axis measurement of 8.4 cm compared to 11.2 on the right. This suggest atrophy.
Hi, thank you for your query. The renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney between the renal capsule and the renal medulla. It forms a continuous smooth outer zone in the adult which extends down between the pyramids. It contains the renal corpuscles and the renal tubules except for parts of the loop of Hence which descend into the renal medulla. Furthermore, it also contains blood vessels and cortical collecting ducts. The renal cortex is the part of the kidney where ultrafiltration occurs. Now the thinning of renal cortex as in your case in the left kidney is due to a cyst(fluid filled swelling) which is exophytic (from outside).measuring 14 mm it is a big cyst which is causing compression of the cortex (outer zone) this leads to atrophy (loss of tissue). Hence the size of the left kidney is smaller than the right one. Hope the explanation answered all of your questions, thank you, wishing you good health