A Popliteal Cyst Responsible For Acute Lower Limb Ischemia

Abstract We report the case of a 68-year-old man complaining from sudden intermittent claudication of the left limb. The patient was rapidly diagnosed with duplex ultrasound (DUS), computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography as having a popliteal cyst (PC) compressing the popliteal artery, responsible for intermittent claudication. The patient underwent DUS-guided PC aspiration allowing symptoms resolution. However, he presented three recurrent ischemic syndromes from brutal claudication to more severe ischemia in a 3-months period, with increasing severity of the symptoms, treated with three DUS-guided PC aspirations. An extensive work-up excluded an atherosclerotic aetiology. Consequently, due to increasing severity and quick recurrence of the symptoms and given the underlying knee osteoarthritis, the patient underwent radical treatment and got a total knee prosthetic replacement. One year after, follow-up was uneventful.