Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffDuring your doctor's appointment you'll be asked to provide:
- A complete medical history, including any family history of dystonia, previous head injury or stroke, or exposure to toxins or drugs
- Blood or urine samples that may reveal the presence of toxins
Your doctor may also request that you have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan done to look for tumors, lesions or evidence of a stroke.
References
- Dystonias fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dystonias/detail_dystonias.htm. Accessed Jan. 21, 2010.
- Tarsy D, et al. Dystonia. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;355:818.
- Comella C. Treatment of dystonia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2010.
- Schwarz CS, et al. Genetics and treatment of dystonia. Neurologic Clinics. 2009;27:697.
- Dystonias. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec16/ch221/ch221c.html. Accessed Jan. 21, 2010.
- Ropper AH, et al. Abnormalities of movement and posture caused by disease of the basal ganglia. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3630437. Accessed Jan. 21, 2010.
- Complementary therapy. Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/pages/complementary_therapy/156.php. Accessed Jan. 22, 2010.
- Ahlskog EJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 27, 2010.

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