Acute Limb Ischemia in a 26-Year-Old Man Presenting with an Idiopathic Thrombosed Popliteal Artery Aneurysm

Abstract

Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) are the most common peripheral arterial aneurysms and develop almost exclusively (>90%) in men who have a history of tobacco abuse at an average age of 65 years. Most PAAs are caused by chronic inflammation secondary to atherosclerotic disease; other nondegenerative causes of PAAs include arterial trauma, infection, Behçet's disease, medial fibromuscular dysplasia, or popliteal artery entrapment. Few case reports have been published on idiopathic congenital PAAs. We report a case of a 26-year-old man who presented with progressive claudication and subsequent acute limb ischemia due to the thrombosis of a large idiopathic PAA. Our case demonstrates that the differential diagnosis of young adult or pediatric patients presenting with signs of acute limb ischemia or claudication should include a symptomatic PAA.