Moyamoya disease

Diagnosis

Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain conditions (neurologists) and brain surgery (neurosurgeons) diagnose moyamoya disease.

To diagnose moyamoya disease, your doctor will review your symptoms and your family and medical history. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and order several tests to diagnose moyamoya disease and any underlying conditions.

Tests may include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of your brain. Sometimes your doctor may inject a dye into a blood vessel to view your arteries and veins and highlight blood circulation (magnetic resonance angiogram).
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan uses a series of X-rays to create a detailed image of your brain. Your doctor may inject a dye into a blood vessel to highlight blood flow in your arteries and veins (CT angiogram).
• Cerebral angiogram. In a cerebral angiogram, your doctor inserts a long, thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in your groin and guides it to your brain using X-ray imaging. A doctor injects dye through the catheter into the blood vessels of your brain to make them visible under X-ray imaging.
• Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan. A SPECT scan is a nuclear imaging test that may be used to check the blood flow to your brain.