Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Popliteal Artery: Diagnosis and Treatment

Purpose: This paper represents the presentation of a case of cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery and an exhaustive review of the literature with an emphasis on optimal means for diagnosis and treatment of this unusual disease.

Methods: We collect all reported cases of cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery since the last review in 1987 with an additional review of these cases reported in the U.S. since the initial description of the disease.

Results: We found 264 cases of cystic adventitial disease (CAD) of the popliteal artery from 1954 to 1995, with 38 reported in the U.S. Fifty-eight new cases of CAD have been reported since the last review in 1987; 11 of these were reported in the U.S. Diagnosis of the disease has improved in the last few years with non-invasive techniques. Duplex color scanning followed by T2-weighted MRI now appears to be the best diagnostic choice. Various therapeutic methods have been described for the treatment of CAD. The recommended treatments are excision of the cyst with the cystic wall when the artery is stenotic and resection of the affected artery, followed by an interposition graft, when the artery is occluded.

Conclusion: Claudication in young, healthy patients resulting from popliteal artery stenosis or occlusion is a leading symptom of CAD. This disease affects males in a ratio of approximately 5:1 and appears predominantly in the fourth and fifth decades. The incidence is approximately 1 in 1200 cases of claudication or 1 in 1000 peripheral arteriograms. The predominance of reported cases is found in Japan and Europe. Optimal diagnostic techniques include duplex color scanning and T2-weighted MRI. The lesions can be effectively treated by resectional or non-resectional means depending on the presence or absence of complete arterial occlusion.