Radiologist-Missed Spinal Tumor Found by Chiropractor

This compelling case study follows a 36-year-old female who presented with lumbar pain and radiculopathy, leading her chiropractor to order an immediate MRI. Upon reviewing the images, the chiropractor identified a "massive" intradural mass spanning L2 to L4—a finding later confirmed by a medical neuroradiologist as a probable ependymoma. Despite the severity, the formal radiology report from a general radiologist completely omitted the lesion, erroneously dismissing it as a motion artifact. The chiropractor had to confront the radiologist to force an addendum, highlighting a dangerous gap in diagnostic accuracy when specialized interpretive protocols are ignored.The sources argue that this case exposes a significant professional double standard regarding diagnostic accountability. If a chiropractor had missed such a pathology, it would likely be framed as a systemic failure in their training; however, when a medical specialist fails, the narrative is often different. This article emphasizes that specialized training and disciplined observation matter more than professional titles. By identifying high-risk pathology early, the chiropractor in this case likely prevented dire outcomes for the patient, reinforcing the vital role advanced imaging education plays in chiropractic practice and patient safety.