This letter to the editor appeared in the New York Times on April 12th.  It is written by the chief of neurosurgery at the V.A. Hospital in Madison, WI.  All I can say is     Absolutely much needed and exactly what we needed! 

Michelle

Keeping Tabs on a Deadly Disease

12 April 2005
The New York Times


To the Editor:

Re ''Out of Nowhere, a Devastating Tangle in the Brain'' (March 29): Moyamoya disease is not a common disorder, but it may be more prevalent than physicians think.

In a large study conducted in the United States in 1998, I found that the prevalence of the disease was roughly 1.2 cases per 100,000 people, which seems low but was still higher than expected.

It may be a self-fulfilling prophecy that moyamoya is considered rare outside Southeast Asia. If physicians don't think of it, the appropriate tests won't be ordered and the disorder will go unnoticed, reducing its perceived prevalence.

It is critical that any young people who suffer ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes get thorough work-ups to evaluate whether they have this devastating disease.

DR. P. CHARLES GARELL

Madison, Wis.

The writer is chief of neurosurgery at the V.A. hospital in Madison.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!