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

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.