title: Electroretinography is necessary for spasmus nutans diagnosis.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether that which clinically appeared to be spasmus nutans could actually represent retinal sensory deficits diagnosable by electroretinography. Eight patients clinically thought to have spasmus nutans underwent electroretinography according to international standards. Five had normal electroretinograms and represented cases of true spasmus nutans. Three patients had abnormal electroretinograms, indicating that they did not have spasmus nutans. The clinical findings used to diagnose spasmus nutans can be simulated by retinal dystrophies. A normal electroretinogram is needed to confirm the diagnosis of spasmus nutans.
authors.affiliation: Section of Ophthalmology, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stass-Isern
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Cibis
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014103:Torticollis / Q000209:etiology