Uncommon Diseases of The Popliteal Artery: A Pictorial Review

Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Popliteal Vein: A Case Report

Venous cystic adventitial disease (VCAD) is a rare vascular anomaly located in the common femoral vein in most cases. We describe the case of a 59-year-old female patient with right leg edema who was misdiagnosed with deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity at another hospital. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed a round mass in the popliteal vein, with a narrow lumen. Considering the location of the lesion, absence of a history of deep venous thrombosis and trauma, and clinical manifestations, the diagnosis is likely a popliteal vein adventitial cyst. Segmental popliteal vein resection and reconstruction were performed using a cylindrical great saphenous vein graft. No joint connection was found during the operation, and the postoperative pathology confirmed VCAD.

About a rare cause of calf pain in an athlete: the popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (a case report)

Claudication of the young patient is a very rare symptom for orthopaedic surgeons and it is often overlooked. We report a rare case of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES), discovered during a vascular claudication following post-traumatic anterior instability of the knee. The diagnosis was confirmed by CT angiography which showed a PAES, with a pathway in the inter-condylar notch. The patient had a releasing of the trapped vessel by myomectomy, with disappearance of vascular symptoms six months later. Through this case, we wanted to draw the attention of orthopaedic surgeons to the fact that the PAES can be asymptomatic. Its symptomatology can be triggered by a traumatic instability of the knee. Its presence represents a risk of lesion of the popliteal artery during arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Therefore, it is important to think about this disease if a calf pain occurring after a ligament injury of the knee.

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: A Diagnostic and Treatment Enigma for Orthopaedic Surgeons

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon condition that causes recurrent posterior leg pain and foot paresthesia in running athletes. This condition occurs most commonly due to an accessory or abnormal implant of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. It may mimic or coincide with other chronic conditions of the lower extremity including chronic exertional compartment syndrome but is most consistent with vascular claudication. Clinical features that distinguish PAES from other causes of leg pain include a sensation of coolness of the posterior leg during exercise and associated paresthesia of the plantar aspect of the foot. Physical examination often reveals decreased intensity of the posterior tibial or dorsalis pedis pulses with passive dorsiflexion or active plantarflexion of the ankle. Diagnostic tests that confirm the presence of PAES include lower extremity angiography during active resisted plantarflexion or maximal passive dorsiflexion, and magnetic resonance angiography done after exercise provocation. Nonsurgical treatment with physical therapy and stretching of the gastrocnemius complex should be done as the first line of treatment. When conservative treatments are ineffective, referral to a vascular specialist for surgical intervention with a muscular band excision or transection, vascular bypass, or arterial reconstruction is necessary.

Functional Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: An Approach to Diagnosis and Management

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon syndrome that predominantly affects young athletes. Functional PAES is a subtype of PAES without anatomic entrapment of the popliteal artery. Patients with functional PAES tend to be younger and more active than typical PAES patients. A number of differential diagnoses exist, the most common of which is chronic exertional compartment syndrome. There is no consensus regarding choice of investigation for these patients. However, exercise ankle-brachial indices and magnetic resonance imaging are less invasive alternatives to digital subtraction angiography. Patients with typical symptoms that are severe and repetitive should be considered for intervention. Surgical intervention consists of release of the popliteal artery, either via a posterior or medial approach. The Turnipseed procedure involves a medial approach with a concomitant release of the medial gastrocnemius and soleal fascia, the medial tibial attachments of the soleus and excision of the proximal third of the plantaris muscle. Injection of botulinum A toxin under electromyographic guidance has recently shown promise as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic intervention in small case series. This review provides relevant information for the clinician investigating and managing patients with functional PAES.

[Adventitial cyst of the popliteal artery]

Vascular cystic adventitious degeneration (CAD) is a rare disease of unclear etiology that affects mainly the popliteal artery (up to 85-90% of cases). Clinical manifestations are similar to aneurysm of the popliteal artery. CAD occurs mainly in males of the 4^th and 5^th decades of life (range 10-77 years). These patients usually have no risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Unilateral symptoms prevail. We report a review and a 46-year-old patient with CAD of the popliteal artery.

Effectiveness of Surgical Treatment with Complete Cyst Excision for Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Popliteal Artery

BACKGROUND

Cystic adventitial disease is a rare, nonatherosclerotic disease that affects various arteries and veins, involving the formation of a mucinous cyst within the adventitia. The etiology of the cystic adventitial disease is currently unclear, with several hypotheses having been suggested. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate the etiology of popliteal cystic adventitial disease based on imaging and surgical findings and to evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment.

METHODS

From April 2013 to January 2020, nine patients were diagnosed with the popliteal cystic adventitial disease and underwent surgical treatment. We performed complete resection of the cyst and the affected segment of the popliteal artery, followed by interposition with autologous reversed small saphenous vein or great saphenous vein.

RESULTS

The resected adventitial cyst tissue was multilobular, filled with high-viscosity mucus. Pathologic examination of the surgical specimen revealed intramural cysts filled with gelatinous material located between the media and the adventitia, consistent with the clinical diagnosis of cystic adventitial disease. The median follow-up period was 27.5 months (range: 2-91 months). All patients underwent cyst excision with graft interposition, and the overall graft patency was 80.9 months (95% CI: 62.2-99.6 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and surgical findings confirmed communication between the synovial cyst and arterial adventitia. It is recommended that priority be given to surgical resection and graft interposition because this can eliminate the disease's cause and reduce its recurrence.

A case of cystic adventitial disease of the poplitealartery: selection of incision of the cyst wall overvessel replacement

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD), a rare arterial disorder, can cause localized arterial stenosis or obstruction. A 55-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of left lower leg pain and paleness when bending the left knee. The patient was diagnosed with CAD of the left popliteal artery based on imaging examinations. Surgery was performed with the patient placed in the prone position using an S-shaped skin incision, and the left popliteal artery was exposed. A simple incision of the cyst wall was made. There was no sign of recurrence at 1 year postoperatively.

Adventitial cystic disease of the popliteal artery

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is a vascular disorder most commonly affecting the popliteal artery. ACD is an uncommon and often misdiagnosed cause of lower extremity intermittent claudication that is usually acute in onset and of longer duration than claudication associated with atherosclerosis. We present two cases of ACD affecting the popliteal artery.

Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome (PAES) in a 17-Year-Old Adolescent

Introduction

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is caused by compression of the popliteal artery (PA) due to deranged myotendinous structures. It can be asymptomatic or may present with exercise intolerance, claudication, or even limb-threatening ischemia. The clinical picture depends on the anatomy and degree of vascular compromise.

Case Description

We report a case of a 17-year-old Caucasian male with PAES Type II presenting with intermittent claudication and progression towards acute limb ischemia.

Diagnostics

MRI and MRA helped identifying the aberrant anatomy and thrombotic occlusion. Doppler ultrasound and conventional angiography have also been employed in a stepwise approach.

Intervention

The thrombus at the site of occlusion was removed by the use of catheter-directed lysis. Subsequently, popliteal artery release was achieved by myotomy of the aberrant medial head of gastrocnemius muscle (MHGM) and muscle transfer to the medial femoral condyle. A three-month regimen of 60mg edoxaban was recommended after surgery.

Outcome

Surgical correction of the anomalous anatomy and postoperative anticoagulation led to freedom of symptoms.

Lesson

Clinical presentation of PAES mimicking peripheral artery occlusive disease is very rare but potentially limb-threatening. PAES should be considered in young and otherwise healthy individuals.

Comparação entre cirurgia aberta e endovascular no tratamento do aneurisma da artéria poplítea: uma revisão

Os aneurismas de artéria poplítea correspondem a 70% dos aneurismas periféricos e o tratamento é cirúrgico, com controvérsias sobre os resultados da via endovascular. Este estudo objetivou realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre a comparação entre cirurgia aberta e endovascular no tratamento dos aneurismas da artéria poplítea. A pesquisa foi realizada utilizando os termos apropriados nos portais de periódicos LILACS e MEDLINE, com a seleção de 15 artigos. Um total de 5.166 procedimentos cirúrgicos foram comparados, sendo 3.930 cirurgias abertas e 1.236 cirurgias endovasculares. A cirurgia aberta com bypass venoso continua sendo o padrão-ouro. A cirurgia endovascular apresenta menor tempo de internação e é uma opção viável em pacientes eletivos, com baixa expectativa de vida, alto risco cirúrgico, comorbidades e mais idosos, desde que tenham anatomia favorável para o procedimento. Contudo, são necessários estudos de longo prazo para estabelecer os reais benefícios e indicações das duas técnicas, como o ensaio clínico randomizado controlado.

Adventitial cystic disease of the popliteal artery treated by bypass graft utilizing the short saphenous vein: A case report

•

CT or MRI scan is crucial in the diagnosis of adventitial cystic disease (ACD).

•

Surgery is the first line in the treatment of ACD at the popliteal artery.

•

The short saphenous vein was successfully employed in bypass graft surgery.

Introduction

Adventitial cystic disease is relatively rare vascular disease, frequently occurred in the popliteal artery. No definitive treatment has been established yet.

Prentation of case

A 53-year-old woman presenting intermittent claudication of the right leg was diagnosed as adventitial cystic disease of popliteal artery. Percutaneous balloon dilation yielded an immediate recurrence. The disease was successfully treated by bypass grafting utilizing the short saphenous vein to replace the part of the popliteal artery containing the adventitial cyst. No postoperative complication was found six months after surgery.

Discussion

Comparing to a great saphenous vein, a short saphenous vein as a material of bypass graft has a significant advantage, as only a single surgical field is necessary.

Conclusion

We propose that bypass graft surgery employing a short saphenous vein is worth considering as a treatment of adventitial cystic disease at the popliteal artery.