Popliteal entrapment and adventitial cystic disease.

Both popliteal vascular entrapment and adventitial cystic disease of the popliteal artery have been recognized with increasing frequency during approximately the past 20 years. A knowledge of these lesions, which were previously thought to be rare and unusual, is mandatory in evaluating patients, particularly the younger, nonsmoking, nonarteriosclerotic, athletic man who has the sudden onset of intermittent claudication. With the increasing interest in these lesions and increasing consideration of these diagnostic possibilities, it will probably be recognized that these lesions are more common than has been thought.