Pott’s puffy tumour: a rare complication of sinusitis
  • Marine Maenhout
    Emergency Department, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
  • Maxime Gudelj
    Radiology Department, Citadelle Hospital Centre, Liège, Belgium
  • Allison Gilbert
    Emergency Department, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium

Keywords

Pott puffy tumour, tumour, subperiosteal abscess, sinusitis

Abstract

Introduction: Pott’s puffy tumour is a rare entity defined by the presence of a subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bone associated with frontal osteomyelitis. Several predisposing conditions can lead to this entity, such as frontal sinusitis.
Case description: We report the case of a 15-year-old patient who presented to the emergency department for headache, fever and forehead swelling. Computed tomography revealed severe pansinusitis complicated by a subperiosteal abscess associated with frontal osteomyelitis, leading to the diagnosis of Pott’s puffy tumour. The management combined intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage of both the sinusitis and subperiosteal abscess.
Discussion: Pott’s puffy tumour represents a rare but serious complication of frontal sinusitis. Clinicians should be aware of this potential complication as the diagnosis can be challenging at an early stage but may influence the subsequent prognosis.

VIEW THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

References

  • William SP, Wilkie MD. Pott’s puffy tumour: an unforgettable complication of frontal sinusitis. BMJ Case Rep 2014;2014:bcr2014204061.
  • Jalali E, Vaddi A, Rengasamy K, Tadinada A. Pott’s puffy tumor, a forgotten complication of sinusitis: report of two cases. Cureus 2023;15:e33452.
  • Tatsumi S, Ri M, Higashi N, Wakayama N, Matsune S, Tosa M. Pott’s puffy tumor in an adult: a case report and review of the literature. J Nippon Med Sch 2016;83:211–214.
  • Silva ACV, Lins CM, Mendes RFA, Silva MHS, de Alenca Neto JF, Lopes CCM, et al. Case report: Pott’s edematous tumor: complicated frontal sinusitis – an unremembered diagnosis. Front Surg 2022;9:889463.
  • Kühn JP, Linsler S, Nourkami-Tutdibi N, Meyer S, Becker SL, Yilmaz U, et al. Pott’s puffy tumor: a need for interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment. HNO 2022;70:8–13.
  • Rhode RL, North LM, Murray M, Khalili S, Poetker DM. Pott’s puffy tumor: a comprehensive review of the literature. Am J Otolaryngol 2022;43:103529.
  • Koltsidopoulos P, Papageorgiou E, Skoulakis C. Pott’s puffy tumor in children: a review of the literature. Laryngoscope. 2020;130:225–231.
  • Views: 106
    HTML downloads: 11
    PDF downloads: 80


    Published: 2024-03-11
    Issue: 2024: Vol 11 No 4 (view)


    How to cite:
    1.
    Maenhout M, Gudelj M, Gilbert A. Pott’s puffy tumour: a rare complication of sinusitis. EJCRIM 2024;11 doi:10.12890/2024_004287.

    Most read articles by the same author(s)