Bundang Seoul National University Hospital Opens "Moyamoya Disease Center"

World's First Dedicated Moyamoya Disease Center

Bundang Seoul National University Hospital announced on January 19 that it held an opening ceremony for the "Moyamoya Disease Center" on January 16 and has begun operations. This is the world's first dedicated center for the diagnosis and treatment of Moyamoya disease.

On the 16th, officials are taking a commemorative photo at the opening ceremony of the Moyamoya Disease Center held at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Bundang Seoul National University Hospital

Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebrovascular disorder in which the major arteries leading to the brain become narrowed, causing the development of abnormal blood vessels around the affected area. The name "Moyamoya," which means "hazy" or "puffy" in Japanese, comes from the appearance of these abnormal vessels on cerebral angiography, resembling smoke rising into the air.

According to Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, the hospital treats approximately 23% of newly diagnosed Moyamoya disease patients in Korea and is responsible for about 36% of surgeries for adult Moyamoya disease patients. The concentration of patients in East Asia, including Korea and Japan, is cited as one of the reasons for establishing a dedicated center.

The Moyamoya Disease Center has established a multidisciplinary cooperative care system, centered on neurosurgery, with participation from seven departments: neurology, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, anesthesiology and pain medicine, and nuclear medicine. The center provides a one-stop care system that covers everything from diagnosis to treatment and long-term follow-up, and has also developed a standardized decision-making structure for patients with complex cases where treatment guidelines are difficult to determine. A "Moyamoya Disease Hotline" is also operated for critically ill emergency patients at general hospitals nationwide.

Lee Siwoon, Director of the Moyamoya Disease Center and Professor of Neurosurgery, stated, "Given the complex nature of this disease, multidisciplinary collaboration and specialized personnel are essential. Based on the clinical experience and organizational capabilities accumulated by Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, we were able to establish the world's first dedicated center."

Bang Jaeseung, Professor of Neurosurgery, said, "The dedicated Moyamoya Disease Center will become a new milestone in the treatment of rare and intractable diseases. We will further refine diagnostic and treatment guidelines based on research achievements and take the lead in setting global standards."

Song Junghan, President of Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, commented, "With the opening of this center, we can now provide more specialized and systematic medical services. We will continue to offer ongoing support to establish standardized treatment protocols and promote research."