Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predicting Outcome After Surgical Revascularization in Patients With Moyamoya Disease

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a nonatherosclerotic cerebrovascular abnormality, characterized by a progressive stenosis or occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and their proximal branches, with subsequent formation of collateral vessels ("puff of smoke"). In some cases, the posterior circulation can also be involved. MMD has been discovered around the world, but Asians carry the most possibility to develop this disease. Current treatment designed to prevent strokes by improving blood flow to the affected cerebral hemisphere including medical therapy and surgery. In particular, surgery included two general methods: direct and indirect revascularization. Compared with direct bypass, indirect procedures are more technically accessible and may reduce the possibility of complications, such as hyperperfusion. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with derived parameters have shown great potential in evaluating perfusion in patients, and could possibly predict surgical outcome. However, there is still lack of evidence of the predictive value of MRI in evaluating clinical and angiography improvement in patients with MMD.