Congenital Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infracts and Leukoencephalopthy (CADASIL)

• Hereditary condition due to mutation in the NOTCH-3 Gene on chromosome 19
• Results in small vessel disease and stroke in young patients
• Imaging findings of leukoaraiosis and small infarcts
• Involves external capsules, paramedian fontal lobes and anterior temporal lobes, the latter considered relatively specific for the disease

Other imaging features that me be seen in CADASIL include:

• Micro-hemorrhages, which occur more frequently than in patients without the disease, but occur in many locations (white matter, deep grey nuclei, brainstem, cortex) making them a non specific finding
• Iron accumulation in putamen and caudate nuclei