Spontaneous resolution of popliteal artery thrombosis

Spontaneous resolution of thrombosis of the systemic arteries is a rarely documented phenomenon. Two patients are described in whom thrombus within the popliteal artery was noted to lyse spontaneously. This resulted in a decrease in ischemic symptoms and was documented by angiography. The spontaneous improvement that occurs in some patients with atherosclerotic femoropopliteal disease may be due to this mechanism as well as to increased flow via collateral vessels.