Pott’s puffy tumour: a rare complication of 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.

Keywords

• pott puffy tumour
• tumour
• subperiosteal abscess
• sinusitis