Effect of moyamoya disease on the basilar artery and adjacent arteries on CTA

Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is rarely used to explore the effect of moyamoya disease (MMD) on the basilar artery (BA) and its adjacent arteries.

Participants were divided into a control group and an MMD group. The relevant parameters were measured. Statistical analyses included the t-test, chi-squared test, and linear regression analysis.

In the control group of 100 healthy people, the average age was 54.51 ± 13.40 years, and the ratio of males to females was 0.89:1. In the MMD group of 100 patients, the average age was 53.95 ± 11.31 years, and the ratio of males to females was 1.13:1. In the MMD group, the CTA score of the anterior circulation of the bilateral hemispheres was 7.57 ± 2.36. According to the statistical analyses, (1) in the control group, the BA apex tended to lean to the right in healthy participants; (2) in the MMD group, the BA was closer to the midline, and the angle between the BA and anterior inferior cerebellar artery was reduced, indicating that the BA was relatively elevated; (3) in the MMD group, the diameters of the BA, PCA and vertebral artery were larger than those in the control group; and (4) MMD patients with posterior cerebral atery (PCA) involvement had higher CTA scores of the anterior circulation.

MMD can cause the BA to move toward the midline and upward and enlarge major vessels of the posterior circulation. The PCA tends to be involved in MMD patients with higher CTA scores in the anterior circulation.