Cystic adventitial degeneration of the femoral artery: is evacuation and cyst excision worthwhile as a definitive therapy?

A case of cystic adventitial degeneration of the left common femoral artery in a patient with localized left groin pain, normal distal pulses, and normal arteriographic findings is reported. This patient was first treated with evacuation and cyst excision. Recurrence was noted after 20 months, and an excision of the cyst and a segment of the common femoral artery with graft interposition was required. At gross examination, the cyst was unilocular and contained gelatinous material. The cyst appeared to be situated in the tunica adventitia and did not communicate with the vascular lumen. No synovial lining was present. Histologically, it was similar to a ganglion cyst with contents rich in hyaluronic acid. A review of the literature was undertaken to determine the results of treating this lesion. The disease is rare. All senior authors of case reports were contacted to construct follow-up information. A high incidence of recurrence was noted in patients treated by evacuation and cyst excision. We believe that total cyst excision with the involved artery and graft interposition at the femoral site can be done easily, safely, and with virtually no chance for recurrence.