The entity of jaw tremor and dystonia.

BACKGROUND

Jaw tremor in the context of dystonia is not well recognized.

METHOD: We describe 7 women (average onset age 70) with jaw tremor and dystonia.

RESULTS

All had features of primary dystonia. Applying MDS criteria for tremor, 3 had "dystonic jaw tremor"; 4 had "jaw tremor associated with dystonia". Drugs were unhelpful. Botulinum toxin injections proved effective in 1 case.

CONCLUSION

We propose the entity of "jaw tremor and dystonia". It is distinct from jaw tremor due to other causes including Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.