[Hypertrophy of the gastrocnemius muscles: possible etiology of the popliteal artery entrapment syndrome?].

Excessive hypertrophy of the both heads of gastrocnemius has been reported as a possible etiology of a popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. However, this syndrome is rather unusual among all those young adults and athletes with hypertrophied gastrocnemius. An other factor must exist in addition of hypertrophy. We describe a patient presenting a more cranial migration of the both heads of gastrocnemius with a shorter and more proximal tendinous attachment above the femoral epicondyles. Thus, excessive hypertrophy of the both heads of gastrocnemius may be in fact the cause of a popliteal artery entrapment syndrome when there is a congenital abnormality of muscular migration.