Popliteal artery entrapment: diagnosis by computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Anatomy

Background:

• Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is a rare condition caused by an anomalous band of the gastrocnemius muscle compressing the popliteal artery.
• Diagnosis of PAES, especially with associated popliteal artery occlusion, is often challenging with conventional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case where computed axial tomography (CAT) successfully diagnosed popliteal artery thrombosis secondary to PAES.
• To emphasize the utility of CAT in evaluating suspected cases of PAES when other diagnostic modalities are inconclusive.

Main Methods:

• A case report detailing the diagnostic process for a patient with suspected PAES and popliteal artery occlusion.
• Utilization of computed axial tomography (CAT) of the popliteal space for detailed anatomical assessment.

Main Results:

• Computed axial tomography provided a precise anatomical display of the gastrocnemius muscle and its relationship to the popliteal artery.
• CAT successfully identified the anomalous band causing entrapment and subsequent popliteal artery thrombosis, confirming the diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Computed axial tomography is a valuable tool for diagnosing popliteal artery entrapment syndrome.
• The precise anatomical visualization offered by CAT aids in identifying the cause of popliteal artery occlusion in suspected PAES cases.