The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of perfusion CT in adult moyamoya disease.

The study population consisted of 13 adult moyamoya patients (10 women and 3 men, mean age: 40.4 years) and 11 age-matched normal controls (5 men and 6 women, mean age: 43 years). We retrospectively assessed the perfusion CT scan both visually and by a quantitative regional analysis, and we assessed the relationship between the perfusion CT scan findings and the angiographic findings.

The mean relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) values in moyamoya patients were 8.0% for the MCA area, 6.4% for the PCA area, and 7.7% for the basal ganglia. The rCBV values in the patients were higher than those in the control group with statistical significance (p<0.0001). The time to peak enhancement (TTP) values of the MCA area and the basal ganglia were delayed more than those in the controls; this was statistically significant (p<0.05). Moderate correlation was found between the rCBV in the basal ganglia area and angiographic stage of the basal moyamoya vessels.

Perfusion CT demonstrates a statistically significant increase in rCBV in the MCA, PCA and basal ganglia areas and the TTP in the MCA and basal ganglia areas in patients with moyamoya disease. The visual brain perfusion patterns correlate with the extent and severity of the basal moyamoya vessels.