Abstract：Objective: To evaluate MRI characteristics of collateral vessels in moyamoya disease(MMD). Method: Both MRI and MRA findings in 16 adult cases with MMD were analyzed retrospectively. Axial T1WI and T2WI were operated for MRI, while 3D-TOF was used for MRA. Results: Three main pathways of collateral circulation from skull base, PCA and ECA in MMD patients were found. Five cases of collateral networks from PCA demonstrated normal, while 7 patients manifested increased, 6 cases were decreased?鸦 13 patients of collateral vessels from ECA presented normal, but 15 cases were increased; 4 cases of skull base moyamoya vessels were slightly increased, 5 patients apparently increased and 7 cases decreased respectively. Skull base moyamoya vessels were displayed well on both MRA and T2WI images, while only on MRA images could demonstrate PCA and ECA vessels. Conclusion: Both MRI and MRA are effective ways to demonstrate collateral circulation in MMD patients.
2006, Vol. 17 
