In this study, we evaluated changes in the cerebral circulatory and oxygenation status during deep hypothermic total circulatory arrest (TCA) and retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) using optical topography, a form of multichannel near-infrared spectrophotometry, to monitor the broad area perfused by the middle cerebral artery. Seven patients underwent thoracic aortic surgery with TCA and RCP via the superior vena cava. Pressure-regulated RCP was performed under pH-stat. No postoperative neurologic complications occurred. Using optical topography, the relative changes in oxy-, deoxy-, and total hemoglobin (oxy-Hb, deoxy-Hb, total Hb) were simultaneously measured from 24 points in both hemispheres. Deoxy-Hb was used for evaluating the regional oxygenation status under RCR The values of deoxy-Hb at the beginning of RCP were regarded as the basal values, and the rate of increase in deoxy-Hb per minute (deoxy-Hb/min) was calculated at each site. Deoxy-Hb/min during TCA was also calculated. In every case, both oxy-Hb and total Hb decreased and deoxy-Hb increased during TCA. When RCP was initiated, the decrease in oxy-Hb and the increase in deoxy-Hb were attenuated. Deoxy-Hb/min was significantly lower under RCP than during TCA in all portions. There was no significant difference of deoxy-Hb/min between any portions during RCP Our results showed that the status of circulation and oxygenation might be uniform in the brain during RCP and better than that under TCA.