Moyamoya Disease in the Philippines

Abstract

Moyamoya disease, a very challenging and attractive medical entity, has been the subject of numerous scientific investigations and dissertations. Neurosurgical and neurological societies, both nationally and locally, especially in Japan, have focused attention on it by dedicating portions of conferences to the discussions of its pathology, etiology, and varied clinical manifestations. The advent of angiography in the early 1940s and its perfection soon after offered a great advance in the understanding of the anatomical characteristics of this syndrome as it was thought then. The main characteristic and important trait of moyamoya disease is the fact that its pathology is centered in the cerebrovascular area [7], mainly in the basal region of the brain. The basal blood vessels show an abnormal, hazy netlike pattern and fine beaded appearance secondary to abnormally develop collaterals and transdural anastomosis in this region. There is narrowing or even occlusion of the carotids in the region of the siphon [5] resulting in symptoms affecting consciousness, motor disturbances such as plegia and palsies, and other neurological manifestations. Children and adults have been known to have suffered with this affliction which is predominant in females.