Belly Dancer's Dyskinesia: A Rare Condition

Abstract

Belly dancer's dyskinesia or diaphragmatic flutter (DF) is a rare condition characterized by repetitive involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. Also known as diaphragmatic myoclonus (DM), this disorder can manifest with involuntary movement of the abdominal wall and contraction of accessory respiratory muscles or respiratory myoclonus. Because of its variable presentation, diagnosis can often be difficult and delayed. This phenomenon is thought to be secondary to abnormal excitation of the phrenic nerve, via the central nervous system or along the nerve.Another possible mechanism is the irritation of the diaphragm itself. Diagnosis can be made with ultrasound, thoracic videofluoroscopy, or electromyography (EMG). Different pharmacologic and surgical therapies have been used in the past, but overall, there are no specific guidelines regarding treatment. In this report, we present a case of DF in a young female patient.