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Neuroimaging in idiopathic adult-onset focal dystonia

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Abstract

We aimed to study the attitude of Italian neurologists in the use of conventional MRI in patients with idiopathic adult-onset focal dystonia. Patients were included in the Italian Dystonia Registry by experts working in different Italian centers. MRI was available for 1045 of the 1471 (71%) patients included in the analysis. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that MRI was more likely to be performed in patients with cervical dystonia, spasmodic dysphonia, or non-task-specific upper limb dystonia, whereas it was less likely to be performed in patients with blepharospasm or task-specific upper limb dystonia. We did not find differences in the number of MRIs performed between neurological centers in Northern, Central, and Southern Italy. We conclude that although the diagnosis of idiopathic adult-onset dystonia is mainly based on clinical grounds, many movement disorder experts rely on MRI to confirm a diagnosis of idiopathic dystonia. We suggest that neuroimaging should be used in patients with adult-onset focal dystonia to rule out secondary forms.

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Acknowledgments

The Italian Dystonia Registry participants are Stefania Lalli: Department of Neurology, IRCCS, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Roberto Erro, Paolo Barone, and Sara Scannapieco: Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy; Roberta Marchese: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Italy; Giulio Demonte and Domenico Santangelo: Botulinum Toxin Center, Neurology Unit A.O.U. Mater domini, Catanzaro, Italy; Laura Avanzino: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Italy; Grazia Devigili: Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, IRCCS Foundation, Neurology Institute “Carlo Besta”, Milan, Italy; Valentina Durastanti: Neurology Unit, San Filippo Neri Hospital ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy; Marinella Turla: Neurology Unit, ASST Valcamonica, Esine, Italy; Sonia Mazzucchi: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy; Martina Petracca and Anna Rita Bentivoglio: Foundation Polyclinic Hospital A. Gemelli - IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy; Maurizio Zibetti: Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini,” University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Laura Bertolasi: Neurology Unit, University Hospital, Verona, Italy; Maria Sofia Cotelli: Neurology Unit, ASST Valcamonica, Esine, Italy; Roberto Ceravolo: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy; Cesa Scaglione: IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy; Giovanni Cossu and Valentina Oppo: Neurological Service and Stroke Unit, Department of Neuroscience, AO Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy; Pierangelo Barbero: Neurology Unit, Umberto I Hospital, Turin, Italy; Paolo Girlanda and Francesca Morgante: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Italy; Mario Coletti Moja: Neurology Unit, Umberto I Hospital, Turin, Italy; Salvatore Misceo: Neurology Unit, San Paolo Hospital, Bari, Italy; Giulia Di Lazzaro and Antonio Pisani: Neurology Unit, Department of System Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Giovanna Squintani and Michele Tinazzi: Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement, University of Verona, Italy; Nicola Modugno: IRCCS Neuromed. Luca Maderna: Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS, Italian Auxological Institute, Milan, Italy; Brigida Minafra: Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, IRCCS, Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Luca Magistrelli: Movement Disorders Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piemonte, Novara, Italy; PhD Program in Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Medical Humanities, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy; Marcello Romano: Complex Operative Unit of Neurology, Azienda Ospedaliera Villa Sofia Cervello Palermo, Italy; Marco Aguggia: Neurology Unit, AOOR Villa Sofia Cervello, Palermo, Italy; Nicola Tambasco: Department of Neurology, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Anna Castagna: Recovery and Functional Re-education Operative Unit, IRCCS Santa Maria Nascente Foundation Don Gnocchi, Italy; and Daniela Cassano: Neurology Unit, Maria Vittoria Hospital, Turin, Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Giovanni Fabbrini, Antonella Conte, Gina Ferrazzano & Alfredo Berardelli

  2. IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy

    Giovanni Fabbrini, Antonella Conte & Alfredo Berardelli

  3. Clinical Neurophysiology Unit “Esposito Marcello”, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy

    Marcello Esposito

  4. Department of Neurology, IRCCS, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Alberto Albanese

  5. Department of Basic Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Roberta Pellicciari

  6. San Martino Polyclinic Hospital IRCCS, Genoa, Italy

    Francesca Di Biasio

  7. Botulinum Toxin Center, Neurology Unit A.O.U. Mater domini, Catanzaro, Italy

    Francesco Bono

  8. Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, IRCCS Foundation, Neurology Institute “Carlo Besta”, Milan, Italy

    Roberto Eleopra

  9. Department of Medical Science and Public Health, Institute of Neurology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Tommaso Ercoli & Giovanni Defazio

  10. Neurology Unit, San Filippo Neri Hospital ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy

    Maria Concetta Altavista

Authors
  1. Giovanni Fabbrini
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  2. Antonella Conte
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  3. Gina Ferrazzano
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  8. Francesco Bono
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  9. Roberto Eleopra
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Consortia

The Italian Dystonia Registry participants

  • Stefania Lalli
  • , Roberto Erro
  • , Paolo Barone
  • , Sara Scannapieco
  • , Roberta Marchese
  • , Giulio Demonte
  • , Domenico Santangelo
  • , Laura Avanzino
  • , Grazia Devigili
  • , Valentina Durastanti
  • , Marinella Turla
  • , Sonia Mazzucchi
  • , Martina Petracca
  • , Anna Rita Bentivoglio
  • , Maurizio Zibetti
  • , Laura Bertolasi
  • , Maria Sofia Cotelli
  • , Roberto Ceravolo
  • , Cesa Scaglione
  • , Giovanni Cossu
  • , Valentina Oppo
  • , Pierangelo Barbero
  • , Paolo Girlanda
  • , Francesca Morgante
  • , Mario Coletti Moja
  • , Salvatore Misceo
  • , Giulia Di Lazzaro
  • , Antonio Pisani
  • , Giovanna Squintani
  • , Michele Tinazzi
  • , Nicola Modugno
  • , Luca Maderna
  • , Brigida Minafra
  • , Luca Magistrelli
  • , Marcello Romano
  • , Marco Aguggia
  • , Nicola Tambasco
  • , Anna Castagna
  •  & Daniela Cassano

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Fabbrini.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical appproval has been obtained in all centers participating to the Italian Dystonia Registry.

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All particpating patients have given provided informed consent.

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Fabbrini, G., Conte, A., Ferrazzano, G. et al. Neuroimaging in idiopathic adult-onset focal dystonia. Neurol Sci 42, 2947–2950 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-05025-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-05025-w

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