# 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.

## Key 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.