Moyamoya disease

Overview

Moyamoya disease is a rare blood vessel (vascular) disorder in which a ring of blood vessels at the base of your brain (the circle of Willis) progressively narrows, causing blood flow to your brain to become blocked. The condition may cause a ministroke (transient ischemic attack), stroke or other symptoms.

Moyamoya disease mainly affects children, but adults also may have the condition. Moyamoya disease usually occurs in people from Japan and other Asian countries, but people in the United States, Europe, Australia and Africa also have been diagnosed with Moyamoya disease.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for Moyamoya disease

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain conditions (neurologists) and brain surgery (neurosurgeons) have experience treating people with moyamoya disease and other brain and blood vessel conditions (cerebrovascular diseases). Mayo Clinic is one of the nation's largest treatment and research centers for cerebrovascular diseases.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and others work together to evaluate and treat people with moyamoya disease.
• Treatment expertise. Mayo Clinic surgeons have expertise treating moyamoya disease using many sophisticated surgical techniques.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals in neurology and neurosurgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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Read more about stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA).