Episodic focal lingual dystonic spasms

We present the clinical history of a woman with idiopathic episodic focal lingual dystonic spasms. Although dystonic spasms of the tongue have been reported as a primary persistent phenomenon and as a feature of secondary dystonias, primary episodic lingual dystonias are rare, tend to be unilateral, and in contrast to most other paroxysmal movement disorders, do not appear responsive to anti-epileptic drugs.