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Belly dancer dyskinesia is characterized by abnormal rippling movements of the anterior abdominal wall due to involuntary diaphragmatic rhythmic contractions.1,2 These movements may disappear during sleep.2 The proposed pathogenesis involves defective inhibitory spinal interneurons or remodeling of the local neuronal network.2,3 Etiologies include abdominal surgery, childbirth, intramedullary thoracic cord tumors, osmotic demyelination, encephalitis, and basal ganglia lesions.1,2,3 Diaphragmatic electromyography and thoracic videofluoroscopy can help confirm the diagnosis.1,2 Treatment options involve clonazepam, botulinum toxin injections, transcutaneous-electrical nerve stimulation, and phrenic nerve block or phrenic nerve crush.1,2,3 Prognosis is variable and dependent upon the underlying etiology.2

References:

1. Villavicencio Kim J, Saraceni C, Elkhattib I, Rossi L. Belly dancer’s dyskinesia: A rare condition. Cureus. 2020;12(8):e9604; doi:10.7759/cureus.9604
2. Gupta A, Kushwaha S. Belly dancer’s dyskinesia: A glimpse of a rare phenomenon. Cureus. 2017;9(7):e1457; doi:10.7759/cureus.1457
3. Linazasoro G, Van Blercom N, Lasa A, Fernández JM, Aranzábal I. Etiological and therapeutical observations in a case of belly dancer’s dyskinesia. Mov Disord. 2005;20(2):251-253; doi:10.1002/mds.20312

Submitted by: Jim Thomas, MBBS, K.V.G Medical College, and Faisal Khan, MD, DABSM, DABPN, Consultant Neurologist, Sugar Land Neurology and Sleep, Texas.

Dr. Thomas and Dr. Khan report no disclosures.