[Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature].

Two cases of cystic adventitial degeneration of the popliteal artery are reported and aetiopathogenetic theories, diagnosis and treatment discussed. One of the cases presented is of special interest because, at surgery, it was possible to observe the relationships of the artery with the articular capsule of the knee through a genicular vessel which, when sectioned, showed an exit of mucinous material the equivalent of that contained in the vasal cyst. This observation gives even more credence to the so-called "articular" aetiopathogenetic theory. The two cases were treated surgically with resection of that segment of the artery and contralateral saphenous vein graft giving an excellent short-term and long-term result and protecting from recurrences.