Cystic adventitial disease is a cause of nonatherosclerotic intermittent claudication. The diagnosis should be most frequently considered in middle-aged men without significant cardiovascular risk factors. The etiology of a cystic adventitial disease is not known, but direct communication between a joint and a cyst is considered to be the source of the disease. Patients affected by cystic adventitial disease frequently present with either claudication or swelling, involving the lower extremities. A characteristic popliteal cyst appearance is seen on noninvasive imaging that confirms the underlying diagnosis. A familial history of cystic adventitial disease requiring surgical intervention in multiple first-degree relatives indicates the need for further research into the possibility of a familial predisposition associated with the condition. In this report, the etiology, pathology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment methods are discussed.
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