With adventitial cystic disease, a cyst made of a mucous-like substance forms in an artery. This limits or blocks blood flow.
The condition is most common in the popliteal artery, which supplies blood to the:
To request an appointment, contact the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute:
Adventitial cystic disease is rare.
Its cause is unknown, but it's far more common in young to middle-aged males than in any other group. Men get this disease five times more often than women do.
If you have adventitial cystic disease, you may feel:
In most cases, the pain will slowly go away when you stop moving.
For most people, symptoms of adventitial cystic disease go away after a few weeks or months.
To diagnose adventitial cystic disease, your UPMC vascular surgeon will:
Tests that can confirm the location and size of the cyst include:
Treatment for adventitial cystic disease often includes surgery.
Your surgeon will remove the cyst and/or replace the section of the blood vessel where the cyst formed.
Your health information, right at your fingertips. Select MyUPMC to access your UPMC health information. For patients of UPMC-affiliated doctors in Central Pa, select UPMC Central Pa Portal. Patients of UPMC Cole should select the UPMC Cole Connect Patient Portal.
The portal for all UPMC patients EXCEPT those in Central Pa.
The portal for UPMC patients in Central Pa.
The portal for UPMC Cole patients receiving inpatient care.
