Diagnostic Delay of Thoracic Meningiomas Due to Anchoring Bias Toward Lumbar Degenerative Disorders

Abstract

In recent years, the frequency of surgery due to lumbar degenerative disorders has increased. Thoracic spinal tumors are susceptible to delayed diagnosis because their symptoms often overlap with those of lumbar degenerative disorders. Studies have shown that the time from symptom onset to diagnosis in intraspinal meningiomas averages 6-23 months, with delays of up to 14 years reported. Similarly, we observed delayed diagnosis in four female patients with thoracic intraspinal masses in the past year. Two patients were 75 years old, and the others were 71 and 57 years old. Their symptoms had been present for 1, 2, 3, and 6 years, respectively. Since spinal meningiomas occur more frequently in women, typically between the ages of 49-54, and predominantly in the thoracic region, careful history taking, physical examination, and appropriate radiological evaluation in elderly female patients with back pain and lower extremity symptoms may help avoid overtreatment.

Keywords

• Lumbar Degenerative Disorders
• Thoracic Meningiomas

Supporting Institution

This study did not receive any funding or financial support.

Ethical Statement

The ethical issues for this study have been carefully considered in line with the Declaration of Helsinki and its amendments.

Lomber Dejeneratif Bozukluklara Odaklanma Nedeniyle Torasik Meningiomların Tanısında Gecikme

Abstract

Son yıllarda, lomber dejeneratif bozukluklara bağlı ameliyat sıklığı artmıştır. Torakal spinal tümörlerin semptomları genellikle lomber dejeneratif bozuklukların semptomlarıyla örtüştüğü için geç tanıya yatkındır. Çalışmalar, intraspinal meningiomlarda semptom başlangıcından tanıya kadar geçen sürenin ortalama 6-23 ay olduğunu ve 14 yıla kadar gecikmelerin bildirildiğini göstermiştir. Benzer şekilde, geçen yıl torakal intraspinal kitleleri olan dört kadın hastada geç tanı gözlemledik. Hastaların ikisi 75 yaşında, diğerleri ise 71 ve 57 yaşındaydı. Semptomları sırasıyla 1, 2, 3 ve 6 yıldır mevcuttu. Spinal meningiomlar kadınlarda, tipik olarak 49-54 yaşları arasında ve ağırlıklı olarak torakal bölgede daha sık görüldüğünden, sırt ağrısı ve alt ekstremite semptomları olan yaşlı kadın hastalarda dikkatli bir anamnez alınması, fizik muayene ve uygun radyolojik değerlendirme, aşırı tedaviden kaçınmaya yardımcı olabilir.

Keywords

• Lomber Dejeneratif Bozukluklar
• Torasik Meningiomlar

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