Case of the Week
Section Editors: Matylda Machnowska1 and Anvita Pauranik2
1University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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November 16, 2009
Pott's Puffy Tumor
- Pott's puffy tumor is defined as scalp swelling due to subperiosteal abscess resulting from osteomyelitis of the frontal bone secondary to bacterial sinusitis.
- Pott first described a puffy indolent tumor of the forehead due to subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bone following trauma.
- Undiagnosed or partially treated frontal sinusitis may lead to destruction of outer and inner tables and subperiosteal/intracranial abscess formation. Due to venous communication between frontal bone and dural venous sinuses, intracranial empyema may result without bone destruction. Complications include preseptal and orbital cellulitis resulting from downward spread, intracranial infection in the form of extra-axial epidural and subdural collections, and intraparenchymal abscess formation resulting from posterior extension.
- Treatment: excision of the puffy lump, curettage of the osteomyelitic bone, evacuation of intracranial abscess and parentral antibiotics covering aerobes/anaerobes.