Pott's Puffy Tumor: A Rare, Life-Threatening Presentation of Periorbital Edema

Mil Med. 2023 Nov 3;188(11-12):3696-3698. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usad291.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / complications
  • Abscess / diagnosis
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Edema / complications
  • Female
  • Frontal Sinusitis* / complications
  • Frontal Sinusitis* / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Orbital Cellulitis* / complications
  • Pott Puffy Tumor* / complications
  • Pott Puffy Tumor* / diagnosis