Moyamoya disease

Abstract

First described in 1957 by Drs. Takeuchi and Shimizu as hypoplasia of the bilateral internal carotid (ICA) arteries, moyamoya was once thought to be a rare disorder limited to those of Asian heritage (Takeuchi et al. Brain Nerve 9:37 43, 1957). It is now recognized to affect all ethnicities, usually at younger ages, and with high risks of stroke if left untreated. Large series of surgical outcomes over several years have shown that surgical treatment is safe and effective in preventing stroke in moyamoya patients with very few lifestyle limitations (Abla et al. Neurosurgery 73(3):430-439, 2013; Guzman et al. J Neurosurg 111(5):927-935, 2009; Kim et al. Ann Neurol 68(1):92-101, 2010; Scott et al. J Neurosurg 100(2 Suppl Pediatrics):142-149, 2004).