RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Improving the diagnostic accuracy in parkinsonism: a three-pronged approach JF Practical Neurology JO Pract Neurol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 77 OP 87 DO 10.1136/practneurol-2011-000132 VO 12 IS 2 A1 Aerts, Marjolein B A1 Esselink, Rianne A J A1 Post, Bart A1 van de Warrenburg, Bart P C A1 Bloem, Bastiaan R YR 2012 UL http://pn.bmj.com/content/12/2/77.abstract AB Separating Parkinson's disease from the various causes of atypical parkinsonism (AP) is a common and clinically relevant challenge in clinical practice. Distinguishing between the different causes of AP is even more difficult. Here the authors discuss a systematic, clinically based and three-pronged approach that can assist clinicians in establishing the correct diagnosis in the consulting room. The three consecutive steps include: (1) to verify that the clinical syndrome truly represents parkinsonism (hypokinetic–rigid syndrome); (2) to search systematically for ‘red flags’ (alarm signs that may signal the presence of AP); and (3) to integrate these two steps, as a basis for a narrow differential diagnosis and a guide for further ancillary tests.