Tourette Syndrome: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99).

  • Fragile X syndrome (Martin-Bell syndrome) – X-linked inherited syndrome in which the main malformations are: large auricles, large genitalia, sterility (infertility), and mental retardation; may be associated with tics (secondary tics) (rare)

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disorders (E00-E90).

  • Wilson’s disease (copper storage disease) – autosomal recessive inherited disorder in which one or more gene mutations disrupt copper metabolism in the liver; may be associated with tics (secondary tics) (rare)

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99).

  • Huntington’s chorea (synonyms: Huntington’s chorea or Huntington’s disease; older name: St. Vitus’ dance) – genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by involuntary, uncoordinated movements accompanied by flaccid muscle tone; as a result, problems with eating occur, among other symptoms; may be accompanied by tics (secondary tics) (rare)
  • Chorea minor (chorea Sydenham) – late manifestation of rheumatic fever (weeks to months) with involvement of the corpus striatum (part of the basal ganglia, which belong to the cerebrum); occurring almost exclusively in children; leads to hyperkineses (lightning-like movements), muscle hypotonia and mental changes; may be accompanied by tics (secondary tics) (rare)
  • Dissociative movement disorders – loss of ability to move or disturbance of movement patterns.
  • Dystonia – disturbance of the state of tension of the musculature, unspecified.
  • Focal epileptic seizures
  • Hyperactivity
  • Mannerisms – bizarre-looking movement patterns that are most common in schizophrenic disorders.
  • Myoclonia – brief, involuntary twitching of individual muscles/groups of muscles.
  • Neuroacanthocytoses (Huntington disease like 2, autosomal recessive chorea-acanthocytosis, McLeod syndrome); may be associated with tics (secondary tics) (rare)
  • Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – insensations mostly in the lower extremities and associated urge to move (motor restlessness).
  • Spasm hemifacialis – spasm of the part of the facial muscles supplied by the facial nerve.
  • Stereotypies – simple or complex action in the area of speech and/or motor skills.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

  • Dyskinesia – disturbance of a movement pattern.