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Popliteal Entrapment

  • • Rare cause of stenosis or occlusion

    • Occurs because of anomalous course of popliteal artery

    • Popliteal artery passes medial to medial head of gastrocnemius muscle (normally passes lateral)

    • -Causes compression of popliteal artery when knee extended

    • 5 anatomic variations

    • Fibrous thickening progresses to occlusion, with poststenotic dilation which may be source for mural embolus

Cystic Degeneration of Popliteal Artery

  • • Arterial stenosis produced by mucoid cyst in adventitia

    • Located in middle third of artery

Epidemiology

Popliteal Entrapment

  • • Occurs more often in young, healthy persons

Symptoms and Signs

Popliteal Entrapment

  • • Symptoms range from calf claudication to severe ischemia

    • Diminished pedal pulses with foot dorsiflexion and plantar flexion

    • Atherosclerotic changes absent

Cystic Degeneration of Popliteal Artery

  • • Calf claudication most common

    • Decreased pedal pulse strength

    • Mass may be palpated (rarely)

Imaging Findings

Popliteal Artery Entrapment

  • • MRI often useful to diagnose

Cystic Degeneration of Popliteal Artery

  • Arteriography: Sharply localized zone of politeal stenosis with smooth concentric tapering, having hourglass appearance

    US/CT scan: Can demonstrate cyst in artery wall

  • • Atherosclerotic changes absent

  • • Complete history and physical exam

    • -Consider diagnosis in young healthy patient with calf claudication or ischemia

Surgery

Popliteal Entrapment

  • • Division of medial head of gastrocnemius muscle, graft replacement of diseased artery; lumbar sympathectomy performed as well

Cystic Degeneration of Popliteal Artery

  • • Cyst excision, may recur

    • Arterial excision and graft replacement may be necessary in some patients

References

Ring DH Jr et al. Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome: arteriographic findings and thrombolytic therapy. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 1999:10:713.
O'Hara N et al. Surgical treatment for popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Cardiovasc Surg. 2001;9:141.

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