Cystic adventitial disease of the common femoral artery: a case report and overview of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is an uncommon condition that affects arteries and veins. It can cause a rare type of non-atherosclerotic peripheral vessel disease. The most common vessel affected is the popliteal artery. The number of case reports on CAD of the femoral artery is growing. We present a case of a 62-year-old female presented with claudication of the left leg diagnosed with CAD of the left common femoral artery. The patient was treated surgically with cyst excision and vessel reconstruction with saphenous vein autograft patch plasty. After 8-months the cyste relapsed and she had new claudication complains. We decided to perform new surgery. Surgical treatment consisted of cyst resection by excision of the femoral bifurcation and saphenous vein autograft interposition reconstruction of the bifurcation. We also provide an update on the latest literature of surgical treatment of CAD of the ilio-femoral artery region.

METHODS

Medline and EMBASE were used to collect articles on CAD of ilio-femoral artery. We included English written or translated case reports or series between 1987 and 2023.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients out of 28 case reports were included. Most patients were male (59%). Claudication is the most common symptom (76%). Treatment consisted of cyst resection, cyst decompression, Endarterectomy, patch angioplasty and interposition graft using PTFE, Dacron, Great saphenous vein (GSV) or femoral vein autograft. Recurrence appeared in 4 cases (14%).

CONCLUSION

In accordance to the literature and our experience we recommend complete vessel excision and saphenous vein (or PTFE) interposition bypass as treatment.

Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery: A case report with review of literature

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is a rare vascular disorder marked by occlusion stemming from the development of a cystic mass within the outer (subadventitial) layer, with a predominant impact on the popliteal artery. The significance of the case presented herein lies in shedding light on a distinct clinical manifestation involving a 40-year-old man who exhibited sporadic calf claudication during ambulation. This instance contributes to the broader understanding of CAD and its diverse clinical presentations, emphasizing the need for further exploration and awareness within the medical community.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 40-year-old man, with no significant past medical history, was referred to the cardiovascular department for the evaluation of a new onset of left calf pain persisting over the past three months. An arterial lower limb Doppler ultrasound was performed, revealing a focal hypoechoic image around the popliteal artery with a regular arterial wall, indicative of extrinsic compression. This resulted in significant stenosis of the popliteal artery during plantar flexion of the foot. The diagnosis of CAD of the left popliteal artery was established after limb computed tomography angiography, and a complete resection of the cyst was scheduled. The postoperative course was uneventful, with the patient experiencing relief from left calf claudication.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

CAD is an uncommon vascular anomaly, representing merely 0.1 % of all vascular conditions. This condition predominantly afflicts men aged between 40 and 50 years old. The etiology of CAD remains a subject of debate, with pathological findings typically involving intramural cysts containing gelatinous material between the media and the adventitia. Surgical intervention becomes necessary when symptoms arise.

CONCLUSION

CAD of the popliteal artery, though rare, is a significant contributor to peripheral vascular insufficiency in young patients without typical atherosclerotic risk factors.

Venous adventitial cystic disease is a very rare disease that can cause deep vein thrombosis: A case report

BACKGROUND

Venous adventitial cystic disease (VACD) is a rare disease characterized by cysts, filled with a gelatinous mucous substance similar to joint fluid, in the adventitia of blood vessels adjacent to the joints. It is often misdiagnosed as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), femoral varices, venous tumors, or lymphadenopathy.

CASE SUMMARY

A 69-year-old woman visited our hospital with a complaint of swelling in the right lower extremity. The patient was diagnosed with DVT and prescribed apixaban at an outpatient clinic. After 3 wk, the patient was hospitalized again because of sudden swelling in the right lower extremity. We diagnosed VACD and performed surgery for cyst removal as well as patch angioplasty and thrombectomy of the right common femoral vein. The patient received anticoagulants for 6 mo and has been doing well without recurrence for 1 year postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Recurrent VACD requires complete removal of the connections to the joint cavity to prevent recurrence.

Common femoral adventitial cystic disease in a young female patient

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is a rare condition that typically presents in young healthy men with symptoms of claudication. ACD is characterized by formation of a mucinous cyst within the adventitia of a blood vessel, usually in the popliteal artery, causing compression of the vessel's lumen and leading to reduced flow and symptoms of claudication. We have presented a rare case of ACD of the common femoral artery in a young female patient that was treated successfully with resection and femoral vein graft interposition reconstruction.

A remarkably rare case of Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Popliteal Artery in a 51-year-old Middle Eastern female - A Case Report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Adventitial Cystic Disease (ACD) is a vastly rare non-atherosclerotic vascular pathology that is principally manifested as intermittent claudication because of peripheral vascular ischemia. Precise etiological factors are not yet concretely identified, and it represents 0.1 % of all lower limb claudication causes. Middle-aged males are the most affected gender age group. Misdiagnosis of Popliteal Artery ACD could delay proper management and hence risk the loss of the affected limb due to critical limb ischemia.

CASE PRESENTATION

We hereby explore the rare case of a 51-year-old female patient, who complained of vague left lower extremity pain accompanied by paresthesia for 1 month prior to admission without signs of local inflammation. The preoperative radiological assessment suggested the presence of thrombosis within the left Popliteal Artery which caused an occlusion in it and hence the proper blood flow was compromised.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Surgical intervention and the complete removal of the lesion along with establishing a patent synthetic anastomotic graft to maintain the preexisting vascular bundle was the key to treating our patient. Microscopic analysis of the excised specimen revealed an Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Popliteal Artery.

CONCLUSION

Adventitial Cystic Disease represents an extremely rare vascular pathology with a vast margin of non-specific symptoms that could lead to misdiagnoses. It is fundamental to establish suitable preoperative screening protocols for it and sustain adequate levels of clinical awareness so that we can timely diagnose and in turn, achieve proper therapeutic interventions to plummet the potential disastrous complications that could ensue.

Inadvertent Stenting and Percutaneous Aspiration for Treatment of Adventitial Cystic Disease in the Popliteal Artery: A Case Report

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is a rare, non-atherosclerotic disease that mainly affects the popliteal artery. Treatment is primarily surgical as endovascular approaches are affected by high recurrence rates. However, some studies have reported successful endovascular treatments of popliteal ACD cases. A 55-year-old female presented with right calf claudication. Computed tomography angiography revealed segmental occlusion of the right distal superficial femoral artery. Subsequently, a drug-eluting stent was successfully deployed. However, an unusual adventitial cystic lesion occluding the lumen that was characteristic of ACD was detected during a postoperative imaging review. It was aspirated using an ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle and drained using a pigtail catheter for 24 hours. Follow-up images after 39 months showed a patent artery with no recurrence of any cystic lesions, highlighting successful ACD treatment via stenting, ultrasound-guided aspiration, and cyst drainage. Stenting and cyst aspiration can be an alternative option for selected patients with ACD.

Cystic adventitial disease of popliteal artery, the both sides of the coin: Arterial resection vs cyst excision

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is a rare form of non‐atherosclerotic arterial stenosis. This entity accounts only for 0.1% of all vascular diseases and affects the popliteal artery unilaterally in 85% of the cases. The options for treatment ACD include excision of cysts, removal of the affected arterial segment with vein graft reconstruction or radiological aspiration. We present two cases of ACD of the popliteal artery and its subsequent management and discuss the pros and cons of the treatment's strategies.

In patients with cystic adventitial disease of popliteal artery, surgical conservative treatment with cyst excision can be performed if no complete arterial wall alteration and no presence of arterial thrombosis, compared with arterial resection.

Treatment failure after rotational atherectomy and balloon angioplasty in recurrent cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery: a case report

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD), which usually affects the popliteal artery, is a rare vascular condition in which fluid accumulates in the sub-adventitial layer, compressing the lumen. Historically, surgical treatment is preferred over endovascular or minimally invasive techniques, due to its lower recurrence rates. Here, the case of a 67-year-old male patient, in whom rotational atherectomy was performed for recurrent CAD following surgical cyst excision and patch angioplasty is reported. The patient’s symptoms recurred one day after the rotational atherectomy procedure and repeat computed tomography angiography showed recurrence of the disease. Due to gradual worsening of the condition during 8 months of follow-up, left distal femoral artery to popliteal artery (below-the-knee) bypass surgery was performed using an ipsilateral reversed great saphenous vein graft. Follow-up has continued for 2 years without complications or requirement of additional treatment. This novel case is the first report of atherectomy attempted for recurrent CAD that led to an early recurrence. Our experience emphasises that additional surgical approaches should be selected over endovascular procedures for treating recurrent CAD.

Adventitial cystic disease of the common femoral vein: an unusual cause of lower extremity swelling and review of the literature

We report the case of a 61-year-old man who had presented with acute unilateral limb swelling. Computed tomography venography and duplex ultrasound demonstrated compression of the right common femoral vein by a common femoral vein adventitial cyst. Before intervention, the patient had developed an acute deep vein thrombosis of the right common femoral vein and great saphenous vein. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated concern for synovial connection. After 6 months of anticoagulation therapy, the patient underwent adventitial cyst excision with ligation of the hip joint articular connection. At 4 months postoperatively, the patient was symptom free without cyst recurrence. The findings from the present case support the synovial theory for adventitial cystic disease.

Long-term outcome of partial resection in venous adventitial cystic disease

Venous adventitial cystic disease is extremely rare. Therefore, standard treatment methods have not been clearly defined. Some reports suggest that complete cyst removal is an effective treatment. However, considering the relatively high recurrence rate, follow-up periods were short. Herein, we report the case of a 75-year-old man with venous adventitial cystic disease successfully treated with partial cyst wall excision. No recurrence was observed for 10 years postoperatively. This case suggests that complete cyst wall excision might not be necessary for the treatment of venous adventitial cystic disease.

[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.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Nonatherosclerotic Peripheral Arterial Disease

A broad range of nonatherosclerotic diseases affect the peripheral arteries. The appropriate initial diagnostic imaging studies vary, depending upon the clinical presentation and suspicion of disease. Accurate vascular imaging relies upon visualization of the vessel lumen, vessel wall, and surrounding soft-tissue structures, with some modalities also offering the ability to characterize blood flow direction and velocity. Furthermore, nonvascular findings are often paramount in supporting a suspected clinical syndrome or guiding surgical management. The scenarios discussed in this document include the initial evaluation of suspected popliteal entrapment syndrome, external iliac artery endofibrosis, lower-extremity inflammatory vasculitides, dissection or connective tissue disease, noninflammatory vascular disease, and vascular trauma. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Inconsistent Use of Terminology and Different Treatment Outcomes of Venous Adventitial Cystic Disease: A Proposal for Reporting Standards

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is a very rare condition characterized by the accumulation of a cyst filled with gelatinous substance in the adventitia of a vessel adjacent to the joint area. The cyst usually compresses the vessel lumen, causing claudication or leg swelling. The disease usually affects the popliteal artery. However, several cases of venous ACDs particularly in the common femoral or external iliac vein have been reported. The definition, diagnosis, and optimal treatment of ACD remain controversial because of its rarity and the inconsistent use of terminology. The heterogeneity of the reported cases is more prominent in venous ACD. Herein, the accurate terminology of cysts correlated to the joint (synovial cyst, ganglion cyst, and adventitial cyst) and the pathogenesis, anatomy, and optimal therapy of venous ACD are discussed in detail to establish reporting standards for future studies.

Peripheral Vascular Imaging Focusing on Nonatherosclerotic Disease

A variety of nonatherosclerotic diseases affect the arteries of the pelvis and lower extremities. Chronic repetitive traumatic conditions, such as popliteal entrapment and external iliac artery fibroelastosis, vasculitis and connective tissue diseases, and noninflammatory vascular diseases, are a few of the more commonly encountered nonatherosclerotic peripheral vascular diseases. Ultrasound, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography are essential in the initial assessment and management of patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Long-term follow-up of adventitial cyst surgical excision in external iliac vein

Adventitial cystic disease of the venous system is an extremely rare condition. Forty-five cases have been described in the literature during the last 70 years, but they may not be representative of the real incidence of this pathologic process. We report a case of an adventitial cyst compressing the right external iliac vein and presenting with edema of the ipsilateral leg. Ultrasound imaging and computed tomography angiography showed the typical features of cystic disease and venous stenosis. Cyst excision was performed with a double surgical access. No perioperative complications were reported. There was no recurrence at 4-year follow-up.

Cystic adventitial disease of the common femoral vein: A case report

OBJECTIVES

Cystic adventitial disease is an extremely rare vascular disorder and is often misdiagnosed. In order to improve the knowledge and treatment of this disease, a case of venous cystic adventitial disease was reported.

METHODS

The whole processes about the diagnosis and treatment of one patient with venous cystic adventitial disease was retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

This case of venous cystic adventitial disease was diagnosed accurately by contrast-enhanced computed tomography and treated successfully by surgical resection. No complications were detected after one-year post-operative follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection is a safe and effective method for the treatment of venous CAD.

Surgical Strategy to Reduce the Recurrence of Adventitial Cystic Disease after Treatment

Purpose

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is a rare condition that causes intermittent claudication and non-atherosclerotic disease without cardiovascular risk factors. The etiology and optimal treatment of ACD remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to analyze surgical treatment results for ACD and to elucidate optimal treatment options.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients with ACD who underwent surgery from 2006 to 2018. Twenty-two patients had arterial ACD, six had venous ACD, and two had combined venous and arterial ACD. We reviewed demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment details, and procedure outcomes.

Results

Recurrence occurred in 6 cases either after cyst excision alone (4/17) or patch angioplasty (2/2). There was no recurrence after vessel excision with interposition grafting (0/7). Therefore, vessel excision was a statistically significant factor in recurrence prevention (P=0.026). Among the six recurrences, joint connections of the cystic lesions were found in four of the six (66.7%).

Conclusion

As a curative surgery for ACD, vessel excision with interposition grafting is a better strategy to prevent recurrence than simple cyst excision alone.

Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Common Femoral Vein Successfully Treated with Resection, Synthetic Graft Reconstruction, and Fistula Creation

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is a rare, benign disease of blood vessels which most commonly affects the popliteal artery. Less than 50 cases of CAD affecting veins have ever been described in the literature to date. We report the case of a 56-year-old woman who presented with unilateral lower extremity swelling and varicosities due to CAD of her common femoral vein. Resection and reconstruction with a venous interposition graft, employing a polytetrafluoroethylene graft and arteriovenous fistula in order to maintain venous bypass patency, were performed successfully. The patient recovered well without any evidence of recurrence or postoperative complications.

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.

A Popliteal Cyst Responsible for Acute Lower Limb Ischemia

We report the case of a 68-year-old man complaining of sudden intermittent claudication of the left limb. The patient was rapidly diagnosed with duplex ultrasound (DUS), computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography as having a popliteal cyst (PC) compressing the popliteal artery, responsible for intermittent claudication. The patient underwent DUS-guided PC aspiration allowing symptoms resolution. However, he presented 3 recurrent ischemic syndromes from brutal claudication to more severe ischemia in a 3-month period, with increasing severity of the symptoms, treated with 3 DUS-guided PC aspirations. An extensive work-up excluded an atherosclerotic etiology. Consequently, due to increasing severity and quick recurrence of the symptoms and given the underlying knee osteoarthritis, the patient underwent radical treatment and got a total knee prosthetic replacement. One year later, follow-up was uneventful.

CYSTIC ADVENTITIAL DISEASE OF THE POPLITEAL ARTERY

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is a rare cause of unilateral intermittent claudication of unknown aetiology, which is characterized by the formation of multiple mucin-filled cysts in the adventitial layer of the arterial wall resulting in obstruction to blood flow. The disease predominantly presents in young otherwise healthy males and most commonly affects the popliteal artery (85% of cases). CAD can be diagnosed by duplex ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, or computed tomographic angiography. Surgery is the primary mode of treatment, including exarterectomy, or replacement of the affected vascular segment by venous or synthetic interposition graft. Alternatively, the cysts can be drained by percutaneous ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. We conducted a review of the literature on the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon condition and present the case report.

Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Iliac Artery with a Connection to the Hip Joint

More than 700 adventitial cystic diseases (ACDs) have been reported in the literature, with most cases affecting the popliteal artery in young men. Here, we describe our treatment and etiologic consideration of a patient who presented with an ACD of the external iliac artery, known to be an extremely rare location. On preoperative imaging, the ACD had a connection to the nearby hip joint and was treated with resection of the affected segment, including ligation of the joint connection and interposition with a prosthetic graft. The pathogenesis of ACDs is not fully understood; however, we believe that joint connections are important in their development and treatment.

Adventitial Cystic Disease: Complicated and Uncomplicated

Three cases of adventitial cystic disease of popliteal artery are reported; 1 complicated with associated thrombosis of the popliteal artery and 2 uncomplicated. Operative management and follow-up are described.

Cystic adventitial disease-case series and review of literature

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is a rare vascular disorder that involves the arteries and rarely the veins, most commonly found in the popliteal artery of male patients. Etiology of CAD is uncertain and currently without a consensus agreement. Clinically, the most common presenting symptom is claudication. Diagnosis requires a strong clinical suspicion in patients with intermittent claudication, but without other risk factors for atherosclerotic disease. Angiography, ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can all be used for diagnosis. Treatment of CAD can be done via surgical resection or percutaneous intervention such as aspiration. CAD can rarely recur after treatment.

Cystic adventitial disease of the common femoral vein

We present the case of a 46-year-old commercial pilot with a history of unilateral leg swelling following a flight to Geneva. Although initial clinical examination suggested a deep vein thrombosis, the swelling only partially resolved with anticoagulation and further imaging suggested the presence of adventitial cystic disease (ACD). The patient underwent initial anticoagulation to allow any thrombus to be lysed, followed by excision of the ACD from the venous wall and venous reconstruction. Following the excision of the ACD, providing the patient remains asymptomatic and further imaging finds normal venous anatomy, we hope the patient will discontinue anticoagulation and return to flying.

Peripheral Non-atherosclerotic Arterial Disorders: What Radiologists Need to Know

Peripheral non-atherosclerotic arterial disorders (NAADs) are a heterogeneous group of rather uncommon conditions that tend to manifest in subjects without atherosclerosis. Each of these conditions has distinctive pathophysiology; however, there are some common clinical and radiological characteristics and in some cases a common treatment approach that unifies these conditions to a specific group, hence the NAADs. Clinicians and radiologists often fail to recognize NAADs, and there might be a delay in the management of such patients; this may result in seriously adverse outcomes that could otherwise have been avoided or minimized. Knowledge of these conditions and of their radiological appearances is therefore important to help establish a correct diagnosis to allow the prompt initiation of treatment. The purpose of this pictorial review is to present a selection of NAADs cases and to discuss the radiological characteristics and the most common lines of therapeutic approaches.

Cystic adventitial disease of the common femoral vein: A case report

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) of the common femoral vein is a rare vascular disorder. It becomes more difficult to recognize preoperatively especially when the femoral vein is affected. We report the case of a 62-year-old female patient who presented with a one-month history of painless swelling in her right lower extremity. She had no specific past medical history and no history of trauma, and had a full coagulopathy profile that was negative for any hypercoagulable syndrome. On examination, her lower right leg was significantly swollen with a palpable mass in her right inguinal region. A computerized tomography (CT) with contrast was performed to provide more information and revealed an eccentric compression over the medial wall of the right common femoral vein. During surgical exploration, adventitial cystic mucinous disease was enucleated and the patient underwent femoral exploration, excision of the cysts and reconstruction of iliac femoral vein graft using an artificial blood vessel. The pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. The patient continued to do well, and she had an unremarkable venous duplex evaluation at her 6-month follow-up. The presentation, investigation, treatment, and pathology of this condition are discussed with a literature review.

Knee MRI: Vascular Pathology

OBJECTIVE

Patients who undergo knee MRI for presumed musculoskeletal disease can have unexpected vascular findings or pathology in the imaged field. Some vascular processes are limb threatening and affect treatment planning and patient outcome.

CONCLUSION

Unexpected vascular findings on knee MRI can range from incidental to symptomatic and can include such processes as variant anatomy, aneurysm, traumatic injury, and neoplasm. The assessment for vascular pathology should be a key component of every radiologist's search pattern when evaluating knee MRI.

Cystic adventitial disease of the common femoral artery at a previous surgical dissection site

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) is a rare vascular disorder associated with nonatherosclerotic peripheral vessel disease and occurs when mucoid cysts in the adventitia compress the blood vessel. The underlying etiology and pathogenesis of CAD remain debatable as various theories have been suggested. This case is interesting because the cyst developed from the previous common femoral artery (CFA) dissection site. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CAD developed at a previous operation site. Thus, we report herein a case of CAD arising from a previous embolectomy dissection site in the CFA that was successfully treated with surgery.

Conditions presenting with symptoms of peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is estimated to affect more than 20% of people older than 65 years. The vast majority of patients with symptoms suggestive of PAD have atherosclerosis often associated with conventional vascular risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and inflammation. A minority of people presenting with symptoms suggesting PAD have an alternative etiology. These groups of disorders are often underdiagnosed, and if diagnosed correctly the diagnosis may be delayed. Understanding these pathologies well is important, as they can be very debilitating and optimal treatment may vary significantly. Inappropriate treatment of these disorders can lead to worsening morbidity and mortality. This article discusses the underlying causes of nonatherosclerotic PAD, including the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.

Basic data underlying decision making in nonatherosclerotic causes of intermittent claudication

Although most cases of vasculogenic intermittent claudication are caused by atherosclerosis, there is an important minority of cases that are due to nonatherosclerotic causes. Because of their rarity and younger population affected, often without traditional atherosclerotic risk factors, there is frequently a significant delay in diagnosis of nonatherosclerotic peripheral arterial diseases by several months to years in some cases. Here, we review the literature on nonatherosclerotic causes of lower extremity claudication, symptoms, management including surgical and endovascular interventions, and outcomes. Conditions included are popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, cystic adventitial disease, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, persistent sciatic artery, fibromuscular disease, giant cell arteritis, iliac endofibrosis, neurogenic claudication, and chronic exertional compartment syndrome.

A contemporary review of venous adventitial cystic disease and three case reports

Venous adventitial cystic disease is a rare vascular disease. The objective of the study is to contemporarily review the literature of venous adventitial cystic disease and report three other new cases of adventitial cystic disease in common femoral vein. Articles published between 1947 and April 2013 were searched in OVID and PubMed databases. The search yielded only 38 reported cases of venous adventitial cystic disease. The general characteristics and disease management information of the 41 cases (including our current 3 cases) were analyzed. Venous adventitial cystic disease could develop late in life with an average age of 48.39 years (range, 5 to 77 years). Similar to arterial adventitial cystic disease, venous adventitial cystic disease was also found to have a male predominance (male to female ratio, 1.28:1). The common femoral vein was the most likely vein to be involved (65.9%, 27 cases). Right and left sides were almost equally affected. Extremity swelling (86.8%, 33 cases) was the main symptom of patients presenting with venous adventitial cystic disease. Excision of cyst wall in 30 patients (73.2%) was the main surgical procedure with a recurrence rate of 11.5%. Thirteen involved veins were resected; of which, 10 were reconstructed with prosthetic or autologous graft. No recurrence was reported in these 13 patients. Postoperatively, nine cases received an anticoagulation therapy. In conclusion, the etiology, treatment strategy, and outcomes of venous adventitial cystic disease could not be well understood in the present review due to limited numbers of cases. Studies with careful follow-up for at least up to first several months are recommended.

Cystic Adventitial Disease of the Common Femoral Vein

We report on a 52-year-old female patient who presented with a 6-month history of right lower extremity swelling and tenderness. The patient was treated as an outpatient with full anticoagulation, without any improvement. Her medical history was significant for hypertension and high cholesterol, and she had a full coagulopathy profile that was negative for any hypercoagulable syndrome. On examination, the patient was moderately obese, with significant tenderness over the medial aspect of the right groin. A venous duplex examination revealed hypoechoic structure ± acute deep vein thrombosis of right common femoral vein (CFV). A computed tomography of the venous phase revealed an eccentric compression over the medial wall of the right CFV. During surgical exploration, adventitial cystic mucinous disease was enucleated from the medial wall of the right CFV, and the pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. The postoperative course was uneventful, and all swelling and tenderness were completely resolved. The patient continued to do well, and she had an unremarkable venous duplex evaluation at her 6-month follow-up.