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Pott's puffy tumor. A case report
N Kaabia1, M Abdelkafi, I Bellara
1Unit of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, CHU, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia.
Abstract:
Pott's puffy tumor is an infrequent entity characterized by a subperiosteal abscess associated with frontal bone osteomyelitis. It is usually seen as a complication of frontal sinusitis. This common condition is usually not diagnosed initially and is easily confused with neoplasms, skin and soft-tissue infection, and infected haematoma. Although Pott's puffy tumor is more commonly described in children, it should also be included in the differential diagnosis of swelling on the forehead in adults. This report describes the case of a 25-year-old man with Pott's puffy tumor resulting from frontal sinusitis, complicated by frontal brain abscess, and a subdural empyema. It was successfully treated with abscess drainage and prolonged use of antibiotics. To the best of our knowledge, only 13 cases of Pott's puffy tumor have been previously reported in adults. Particularities of this disease are reported here.
Insights
Pott's puffy tumor, a subperiosteal abscess from frontal sinusitis, is rare in adults. This case highlights its successful treatment with drainage and antibiotics, emphasizing its importance in adult forehead swelling differentials.
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Reports
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Pott's puffy tumor is a rare subperiosteal abscess linked to frontal bone osteomyelitis, often stemming from frontal sinusitis.
- It is frequently misdiagnosed, presenting challenges in differentiating it from neoplasms, soft-tissue infections, or hematomas.
- While more common in children, it's crucial to consider in adult forehead swelling differential diagnoses.
Observation:
- A 25-year-old male presented with forehead swelling.
- The swelling was diagnosed as Pott's puffy tumor secondary to frontal sinusitis.
- Complications included a frontal brain abscess and subdural empyema.
Findings:
- The patient underwent successful treatment involving abscess drainage.
- Prolonged antibiotic therapy was administered.
- This case adds to the limited adult literature, with only 13 previously reported adult cases.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering Pott's puffy tumor in the differential diagnosis of adult forehead masses.
- Prompt diagnosis and management, including surgical drainage and antibiotics, are crucial for favorable outcomes.
- Further reporting of adult cases is warranted to improve understanding and clinical recognition of this infrequent entity.
