Abstract
Patients who diminish or eliminate the pedal pulses with passive dorsal flexion (PDF) of the ankle (positive PDF test) without any symptoms caused by popliteal vascular entrapment is called functional popliteal entrapment syndrome. We report three cases of functional popliteal vein entrapment syndrome which might cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In the first case, a 73-year-old man had bilateral leg swelling with positive PDF test. Ascending venography demonstrated postthrombotic recanalization of left popliteal vein and compression of right popliteal vein with dorsal flexion of the ankle. Since right popliteal vein was involved by venographic finding, left popliteal vein entrapment was also suspected. The second patient, a 81-year-old man had right lower leg varicose veins and swelling with right positive PDF test. Ascending venography demonstrated a thrombus in right popliteal vein. Compression of right popliteal vein with dorsal flexion of the ankle has been shown after recanalization of deep vein. The third patient, a 52-year-old male had left leg swelling with left positive PDF test. Ascending venography demonstrated a thrombus in left popliteal vein and compression of left popliteal vein with dorsal flexion of the ankle. The first and second cases were diagnosed as pulmonary embolization by pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy. All three cases were treated with compression stockings and anticoagulation therapy and have done well. It is indicated that functional popliteal vein entrapment syndrome, frequently found in the healthy people, may be likely to develop spontaneous calf DVT.
