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Moyamoya syndrome in young children: MR comparison with adult onset
J Takanashi1, K Sugita, M Ishii
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.
Purpose:
To clarify whether there were any differences in MR appearance between the childhood and the adult moyamoya syndromes.
Method:
We compared the cranial MR findings in four children under the age of 6 who had moyamoya syndrome with previously documented adult cases.
Results:
Moyamoya syndrome in younger children exhibited a significant increase in cortical and subcortical infarction, and a decreased incidence of deep white matter infarction in the centrum semiovale and basal ganglia, in contrast to adult cases. There were no remarkable differences between these two groups of moyamoya cases with regard to the occlusive changes of the internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries, or to the flow void sign on MR.
Conclusion:
These differences in the sites and frequencies of infarctions between the childhood and the adult moyamoya syndromes observed on MR might reflect differences in the cerebral circulation.
Insights
Childhood moyamoya syndrome shows distinct MR imaging patterns, with more cortical infarctions and fewer deep white matter infarctions compared to adults. These findings suggest differences in cerebral circulation between pediatric and adult moyamoya disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Moyamoya syndrome is a rare cerebrovascular disorder.
- Understanding age-related differences in presentation is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of moyamoya syndrome in children versus adults.
- To identify potential differences in MR appearance between childhood and adult moyamoya syndromes.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of cranial MR findings.
- Study included four children under six years old with moyamoya syndrome.
- Comparison with previously documented adult moyamoya syndrome cases.
Main Results:
- Childhood moyamoya syndrome demonstrated increased cortical and subcortical infarction.
- Pediatric cases showed a decreased incidence of deep white matter infarction in specific brain regions (centrum semiovale, basal ganglia).
- No significant differences were observed in occlusive changes of major cerebral arteries or MR flow void signs between age groups.
Conclusions:
- Observed differences in infarction patterns on MR imaging may indicate distinct cerebral circulation mechanisms in pediatric versus adult moyamoya syndrome.
- MR imaging plays a key role in differentiating age-specific presentations of moyamoya syndrome.