Congenital anomalies of the external iliac artery: case report and review of the literature.

Routine arteriograms obtained during work-up for occlusive arterial disease of the lower limbs disclosed a rare congenital anomaly in a 47-year-old man. The common femoral artery arose directly from a pelvic artery which followed the normal course of the internal iliac artery. Congenital anomalies involving the external iliac artery can be classified into three groups: (1) anomalies of origin or course which are in fact anatomic curiosities; (2) hypoplasia or atresia coexisting with persistent sciatic artery; and, (3) isolated hypoplasia or atresia which can occasionally cause chronic ischemia of the lower limbs. The anomaly reported herein can be classified either as agenesia or abnormal course of the external iliac artery.