[Cystic adventitial degeneration. A rare cause of intermittent claudication]

Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery is an unusual condition of uncertain etiology in which a mucin-containing cyst forms in the wall of the popliteal artery and causes symptoms of intermittent claudication. The patient is typically a young non-smoking male, whose arteries otherwise are normal. Arteriography may show a smooth-walled narrowing or a non-specific complete occlusion, but may also be normal. Non-invasive imaging techniques may be helpful. We report two cases of cystic adventitial disease. Both were successfully operated on with resection of the diseased arterial segment and vein bypass interposition.