Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Popliteal Artery: A case report

ABSTRACT

Localized cystic degeneration of peripheral arteries represents and unusual cause of arterial insufficiency. It frequently occurs in patient without generalized arteriosclerosis. It has been reported in patients from age 11 to 62 years. Cystic adventitial disease is most common in the popliteal artery. At least 115 cases have been reported worldwide, but none in Korea. We report a case of cystic adventitial disease involving the left popliteal artery. This 64-year-old man presented with an 18-month history of cramping pain of sudden onset in the left calf and claudication. Angiographic findings showed a 6 cm length of luminal obliteration of the popliteal artery. Segmentally resected popliteal artery showed two longitudinally directed cystic masses measuring 3.5x1.5 cm and 2.5x1.5 cm in the adventitia. Microscopic examination revealed cystic space in the arterial adventitia compressing arterial lumen. There were a number of foamy histiocytes collected along the cystic lumen.