Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery.

Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery has been recognized as a cause of arterial stenosis and calf claudication for 30 years. It is reported infrequently and its etiology remains unknown. In addition, a peculiar geographic distribution of the reported cases of this disorder has been noted, with a majority of cases from Europe and Australasia. The authors report here a case from South Carolina in which a fibrous band may have contributed to compression during exercise. Noninvasive studies and angiographic studies were negative before exercise and positive after exercise. Current ideas of diagnosis, surgical treatment and possible etiology are presented.