- Catheter angiography
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and MR angiography
- Computerized Tomographic (CT) scan and CT angiography
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scan
Catheter angiography uses a small tube (1.3 mm in diameter) that is inserted from the femoral artery. This small tube, or catheter, is navigated in the artery to the neck (carotid) artery. This method has a potential risk such as cerebral infarction, thus its indication should be strict.
MRI's and MR angiography are risk-free diagnostic methods, but its diagnostic ability is usually not as high-quality compared to the catheter angiography.
CT scans can tell the presence or absence of hemorrhages and the occurence of strokes, but cannot depict Moyamoya disease.
SPECT scans show the areas in which there is a lack of oxygen in the brain. In the case of Moyamoya, there are noticable dark, black areas that show that there is no oxygen reaching those parts of the brain.
- Narrowing of the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery and its vacinity at the base of the brain are observed
- The above mentioned changes are observed until a definite diagnosis is determined.