title: Neuroanatomical correlates of dystonic tremor: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is aimed at investigating the neuroanatomical patterns characterizing dystonic tremor in comparison with essential tremor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Voxel-based morphometry and cortical thickness data of 12 patients with dystonic tremor, 14 patients with essential tremor and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with dystonic tremor showed a thickening and increased gray matter volume (surviving whole-brain correction for multiple comparisons) of the left sensorimotor cortex when compared to other groups. Otherwise, patients with essential tremor were characterized by a subtle atrophy of the anterior cerebellar cortex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our multimodal structural neuroimaging study demonstrated that patients with dystonic tremor and essential tremor are characterized by different neuroanatomical abnormalities. The involvement of the sensorimotor cortex in patients with dystonic tremor suggests that this disorder may share some pathophysiological mechanisms with focal dystonia.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerasa
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nisticò
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University "Magna Graecia", Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salsone
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University "Magna Graecia", Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University "Magna Graecia", Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Dania
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salvino
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University "Magna Graecia", Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University "Magna Graecia", Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Gennarina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arabia
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy; Institute of Neurology, University "Magna Graecia", Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy. Electronic address: quattrone@unicz.it.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quattrone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020329:Essential Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014202:Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Dystonic tremor; Essential tremor; Neuroimaging; Sensori-motor cortex; Voxel-based morphometry