Spontaneous Arterial Recanalization with Magnetic Resonance Angiography Evidence: Report of a Case

A 27-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for investigation of severe claudication in his right foot. Based on the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), we diagnosed anatomic popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, which was causing a short popliteal artery occlusion. Moreover, a long posterior tibial artery occlusion and a peroneal artery lesion had developed as distal thromboembolic complications of the entrapment. Thus, we planned to perform in situ vein bypass graft for the popliteal occlusion and start thrombolytic treatment for the posterior tibial and peroneal lesions. While contemplating the operation, the patient showed a gradual clinical improvement over the next 2 months. A second MRA showed total arterial recanalization of the right posterior tibial and peroneal arteries, although the popliteal artery was still occluded. Spontaneous lower limb arterial recanalization is a rare phenomenon. To our knowledge, this is the first case of spontaneous arterial recanalization after a distal thromboembolic event caused by popliteal entrapment syndrome.