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Updated: May 9, 2026

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy and Pineal Biopsy from a Single Entry Point
Published on: June 28, 2024
Brain tumor presenting as somnambulism in an adolescent
Priya S Prashad1, Carole L Marcus, Lawrence W Brown
1Sleep Center, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. prashadps@hotmail.com
Background:
Sleepwalking is typically a benign and self-limited non-rapid eye movement parasomnia of childhood.
Patient:
We describe an unusual 15-year-old boy referred to our sleep center for new-onset sleepwalking.
Results:
An overnight polysomnogram was normal from a respiratory standpoint, but a concurrent extended electroencephalogram montage showed frequent epileptiform discharges from the right parietal-temporal region and two electroclinical seizures arising from the right-frontal-central-temporal region during sleep. Magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a right parasagittal parietal region lesion consistent with a low-grade neoplasm, and surgical resection of the lesion demonstrated a right parietal dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor. Complex partial seizures and sleepwalking remitted completely with anticonvulsant therapy following surgery.
Conclusions:
This patient highlights the differential diagnosis of nocturnal events appearing to be typical parasomnias, especially when they arise abruptly at an older age.
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