Cerebral Arterial Variations Associated with Moyamoya Disease Diagnosed by MR Angiography
Akira Uchino1, Naoko Saito2, Masahiro Takahashi3
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center; Hidaka, Saitama, Japan - auchino@saitama-med.ac.jp.
Abstract:
Moyamoya disease is a rare progressive cerebrovascular steno-occlusive disease associated with different variations of the cerebral arteries. We evaluated the types and prevalence of such variations among patients with moyamoya disease. In our institution during the past seven years, we diagnosed 72 patients (24 male, 48 female; aged 6 to 75 years, mean, 42 years) with moyamoya disease by magnetic resonance (MR) angiography using either a 3-Tesla or one of two 1.5-T imagers and a standard time-of-flight technique without contrast media. An experienced neuroradiologist retrospectively reviewed the images. There were 15 cerebral arterial variations in 13 of 72 patients with moyamoya disease (18.1%), including four basilar artery fenestrations, three ophthalmic arteries arising from the middle meningeal artery, two intracranial vertebral artery fenestrations, two persistent first cervical intersegmental arteries, two persistent trigeminal arteries, one extracranial origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and one persistent stapedial artery. Although our number of patients was small, moyamoya disease was frequently associated with variations of the cerebral arteries, especially fenestrations in the vertebrobasilar system and persistent trigeminal artery.
Insights
Moyamoya disease, a rare cerebrovascular condition, is often linked to variations in cerebral arteries. This study found 18.1% of moyamoya patients had arterial variations, particularly in the vertebrobasilar system.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Moyamoya disease is a rare, progressive cerebrovascular steno-occlusive condition.
- Cerebral arterial variations are increasingly recognized in neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the types and prevalence of cerebral arterial variations in patients diagnosed with moyamoya disease.
- To investigate the association between moyamoya disease and specific arterial anomalies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography images from 72 moyamoya disease patients.
- Utilized 3-Tesla and 1.5-Tesla imagers with a standard time-of-flight technique without contrast media.
- Analysis performed by an experienced neuroradiologist.
Main Results:
- Cerebral arterial variations were identified in 13 out of 72 patients (18.1%).
- Common variations included basilar artery fenestrations, ophthalmic arteries arising from the middle meningeal artery, and persistent trigeminal arteries.
- Fenestrations in the vertebrobasilar system and persistent trigeminal artery were notably frequent.
Conclusions:
- Moyamoya disease is frequently associated with cerebral arterial variations.
- The findings highlight the importance of recognizing these variations in the context of moyamoya disease for improved diagnosis and management.
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