ABSTRACT
These tumours occur in the spinal cord or the cauda equina. They may be extramedullary, like neurofibromas or meningiomas, or intramedullary, like ependymomas or astrocytomas.
Spinal tumours are frequently not diagnosed until a late stage. It can sometimes take years to make the diagnosis [1], Unfortunately, this delay may
affect adequate and optimal treatment and survival [2], When patients complain about their management, this is usually because they think there has been unreasonable delay in making the diagnosis rather than any deficiency in operative or post-operative care. Why is the diagnosis difficult to make and why is it frequently delayed?
