Persons with moyamoya disease may have sensory and cognitive
impairments, involuntary movements, vision problems and speech
deficits. Speech deficiencies usually fall into the category of
aphasia, or an impaired ability to speak and understand others.
Cerebral angiography – an X-ray study of the blood vessels using
a dye – is the principal form of imaging used for the diagnosis
of moyamoya disease. The characteristic findings of moyamoya
disease on an angiogram are traditionally described in stages,
which progress from early narrowing of the carotid arteries to
the formation of moyamoya vessels and then to the disappearance
of these vessels with maintenance of blood flow by the external
carotid and vertebral arterial systems. Noninvasive imaging
techniques also may be used in the diagnosis of moyamoya
disease. When magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic
resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrate blockage of carotid
arteries and moyamoya vessels on both sides, a cerebral
angiogram is not needed for a diagn