Quiste adventicial de arteria poplítea y su relación con la articulación de la rodilla. Histología y resonancia magnética

Introduction. Adventitial cysts of the popliteal artery are an infrequent cause of ischaemic symptoms in the lower extremities. It is, however, important to take them into account in the differential diagnosis in young individuals with intermittent claudication in the calf muscles. Although the causation and pathogenesis of this condition remain uncertain, a correct diagnosis allows the specialist to restore normal blood flow in the extremity. Case report. We studied the case of a 57-year-old patient with intermittent claudication and an adventitial cyst of the popliteal artery, which magnetic resonance imaging showed to be communicating with the knee joint, and this was later confirmed by surgery. Conclusions. Use of magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic test was able to clearly demonstrate the existence of this pathology and lend support to the synovial hypothesis. [ANGIOLOGÍA 2005; 57: 243-6]