Purpose The authors report the endovascular treatment of intracranial stenosis in six patients with moyamoya-type collaterals.

Patients All patients previously had experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack. Lesion locations included a unilateral M1-segment lesion in five patients; and ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA)-T, M1 and A1 lesions with contralateral supraclinoid ICA stenosis in one patient. Mean M1 stenosis was 77.3±14.3%.

Results Six patients had balloon angioplasty; in one, a Wingspan stent deployed successfully after angioplasty failed to relieve the stenosis. Mean post-treatment stenosis was 41.0±33.0%. In one patient, vessel rupture occurring during angioplasty caused severe disability. Two patients were asymptomatic for 4 years and 6 months, respectively. One asymptomatic patient had severe restenosis re-treated with intracranial stenting. Two patients became symptomatic and had re-treatment at 1 and 2 months, respectively.

Conclusion Endovascular treatment of intracranial stenosis with moyamoya-type collaterals is possible but is associated with high rates of symptomatic restenosis and target-lesion revascularization.