A remarkably rare case of Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Popliteal Artery in a 51-year-old Middle Eastern female - A Case Report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Adventitial Cystic Disease (ACD) is a vastly rare non-atherosclerotic vascular pathology that is principally manifested as intermittent claudication because of peripheral vascular ischemia. Precise etiological factors are not yet concretely identified, and it represents 0.1 % of all lower limb claudication causes. Middle-aged males are the most affected gender age group. Misdiagnosis of Popliteal Artery ACD could delay proper management and hence risk the loss of the affected limb due to critical limb ischemia. CASE PRESENTATION: We hereby explore the rare case of a 51-year-old female patient, who complained of vague left lower extremity pain accompanied by paresthesia for 1 month prior to admission without signs of local inflammation. The preoperative radiological assessment suggested the presence of thrombosis within the left Popliteal Artery which caused an occlusion in it and hence the proper blood flow was compromised. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Surgical intervention and the complete removal of the lesion along with establishing a patent synthetic anastomotic graft to maintain the preexisting vascular bundle was the key to treating our patient. Microscopic analysis of the excised specimen revealed an Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Popliteal Artery. CONCLUSION: Adventitial Cystic Disease represents an extremely rare vascular pathology with a vast margin of non-specific symptoms that could lead to misdiagnoses. It is fundamental to establish suitable preoperative screening protocols for it and sustain adequate levels of clinical awareness so that we can timely diagnose and in turn, achieve proper therapeutic interventions to plummet the potential disastrous complications that could ensue.