Recognizing Moyamoya Disease in a Soldier With Recurrent Cerebrovascular Symptoms

Moyamoya is a rare and progressive cerebrovascular disease involving collateral small vessel formation associated with intracranial artery narrowing. It is a disease that frequently presents with stroke and transient ischemic attacks and has potential to affect our active duty service members and their families with its bimodal age of onset of 10 and 40. This case report describes a soldier with moyamoya whose diagnosis was unrecognized for over a year after seeing multiple medical providers regarding his symptoms. The goal of this case report is to raise vigilance for this disease as it can cause significant morbidity and mortality with mental decline, recurrent strokes, and death without timely surgery.