Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Anatomy

Background:

• Intermittent claudication (IC) is common in atherosclerotic patients but can affect young individuals without risk factors.
• Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is a rare cause of IC in younger populations, often presenting diagnostic challenges.
• Existing literature on PAES, particularly functional variants, lacks consensus on optimal diagnostic and management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical symptomatology of PAES.
• To discuss the classification and radiological diagnosis of PAES.
• To outline current treatment strategies for PAES.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of case reports and series on PAES.
• Analysis of clinical presentations and diagnostic modalities.
• Synthesis of treatment approaches for PAES and its variants.

Main Results:

• PAES presents with lower limb pain, mimicking other conditions, making diagnosis difficult.
• Radiological imaging plays a crucial role in identifying the anatomical abnormalities characteristic of PAES.
• Management strategies vary, with a need for tailored approaches based on PAES classification.

Conclusions:

• PAES is an underdiagnosed cause of IC in young patients.
• Accurate diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion and appropriate imaging.
• Further research is needed to establish standardized diagnostic and treatment guidelines for PAES.