# Pott’s Puffy Tumor: A Case Report of a Complication of Rhinosinusitis in the Pediatric Age

## TL;DR

A rare case of Pott's Puffy Tumor in an 8-year-old boy shows successful medical treatment without surgery.

## Contribution

This case report adds a rare pediatric instance of Pott's Puffy Tumor successfully treated medically.

## Key findings

- Pott's Puffy Tumor was diagnosed via contrast-enhanced brain CT in an 8-year-old.
- Complete recovery was achieved using intravenous antibiotics without surgery.
- The case emphasizes early diagnosis and treatment of bacterial sinusitis in children.

## Abstract

Pott's puffy tumor is a rare and often fatal complication of frontal sinusitis characterized by osteomyelitis and subperiosteal collection of the frontal bone. It is typically managed by surgical drainage combined with antibiotic therapy.

We describe a previously well eight-year-old boy with forehead swelling following rhinosinusitis. A brain CT scan with contrast was diagnostic for Pott's puffy tumor with findings of acute frontal sinusitis with intracranial extension, subperiosteal collection, subgaleal inflammatory changes, and osteomyelitis. The patient was managed medically with intravenous ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and metronidazole, and complete recovery was achieved without surgical intervention.

This case highlights the need to consider Pott’s puffy tumor in the differential diagnosis of atraumatic forehead swelling in children and the importance of treating bacterial sinusitis in this age group.