Imaging of Cerebrovascular Disease in Young Adults: What the Radiologist Needs to Know

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) can result from blood vessel narrowing, rupture, or a hypercoagulable state, which may present on imaging as vascular stenosis, hemorrhage, or occlusion, respectively. As an emerging public health issue with debilitating effects on young adults, recognizing the similarities and differences between CVD in young adults and elderly patients is imperative for optimizing management and patient outcomes. In addition to recognizing key imaging findings for the various causes of CVD, radiologists should be familiar with the clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, and management options for each of these diverse pathologies. For the purposes of this manuscript, young adults are defined as those age 18 to 50 years old.