Idiopathic generalized dystonia

Idiopathic generalized dystonia is a group of neurodegenerative diseases primarily charecterized by dystonic hyperkinetic disorder (irregular slow involuntary movements of different body parts accompanied by specific muscle tone changes and pathological poses). A 54-year-old female was admitted with various complaints. The leading syndrome was extrapyramidal due to which the differential diagnosis included Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, corticobasal degeneration, etc. The diagnosis of idiopathic generalized dystonia, in the form of lower extremity hyperkinesia with dystonic equinus of the left foot and hallux extension and cheirospasm, was made by a method of exclusion. The clinical case described in the article illustrates variety of clinical manifestations of the disease imitating clinical presentation of various neurological and psychiatric disorders, complexity of diagnostic search and importance of timely diagnosis of this disease.

idiopathic generalized dystonia, differential diagnosis