Giant Thoracic Meningioma: Missed Diagnosis and Challenging Management in a Resource-Limited Setting

TL;DR

A woman with a treatable spinal tumor suffered long-term disability due to delayed diagnosis in a low-resource setting.

Contribution

Highlights the critical impact of delayed diagnosis and limited resources on spinal tumor outcomes.

Findings

Delayed diagnosis led to irreversible neurological damage in a surgically treatable case.

Access to MRI and neurosurgical care is crucial for preventing complications.

Resource limitations significantly hinder effective spinal tumor management.

Abstract

Intradural extramedullary spinal tumors are surgically treatable lesions, but delayed diagnosis, particularly in low-resource settings, can result in irreversible neurological deficits. We present a case of a 37-year-old woman with a five-year history of progressive paraplegia due to a thoracic T4-T5 intradural extramedullary tumor, whose diagnosis and management were significantly delayed due to system-level limitations. This case illustrates the severe consequences of missed or delayed diagnosis of surgically treatable spinal tumors in resource-limited settings. Early MRI interpretation by trained specialists, timely neurosurgical referral, and availability of surgical adjuncts such as dural sealants are essential to prevent avoidable morbidity.

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