The angiographic evaluation of lower-extremity arterial disease in the young adult.

The angiographic evaluation of 38 patients younger than 40 years of age with lower-extremity arterial disease is reviewed. Although atherosclerosis was the most common diagnosis, other etiologies included thromboembolism, popliteal artery entrapment, Buerger's disease, collagen vascular disease, and arteritis. The two features of the angiographic workup that proved most helpful in establishing an accurate diagnosis were biplane aortography and runoff exams designed to demonstrate possible popliteal artery entrapment.