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Pott's Puffy Tumor: A Rare, Life-Threatening Presentation of Periorbital Edema
Benjamin G Kuhar1, Travis M Dunn2, Bryan J Liming3
1Ophthalmology Residency Program, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA.
Abstract:
Pott's puffy tumor (PPT) describes forehead swelling with associated frontal bone osteomyelitis and a subperiosteal abscess (SPA) requiring a high suspicion index for optimal outcomes. PPT is a life-threatening complication of frontal sinusitis typically found in adolescents. Our case is one of the youngest in the literature. This report describes a 3-year-old patient who developed multifocal abscesses in the epidural space with frontal and orbital SPA, requiring surgical intervention. Additionally, her course was complicated by a superior sagittal venous thrombosis, a complication commonly associated with PPT. We present an unusual case of orbital SPA and aim to highlight a life-threatening pediatric condition that is often underrecognized.
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