Recurrent forehead swelling — a case to remember

Authors

  • Elda Marques da Costa Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Unidade Local de Saúde Almada-Seixal https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5734-0559
  • Inês Alves Pereira Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Santa Maria, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria
  • Joana Sousa Martins Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Unidade Local de Saúde Almada-Seixal
  • Maria Inês Marques Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Unidade Local de Saúde Almada-Seixal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v34.i4.38045

Keywords:

frontal sinusitis complication, frontal subperiosteal abscess, osteomyelitis, pediatrics/children, Pott’s puffy tumor

Abstract

Pott's puffy tumor, a subperiosteal abscess with osteomyelitis in the frontal sinus, is a rare complication of sinusitis. It presents as forehead swelling, after misdiagnosed or inappropriately treated frontal sinusitis. It affects mainly adolescents, when the sinus pneumatization is completed; however, the frontal sinus pneumatization process can start at the age of two.
This case shows a rare complication of sinusitis at an earlier age than expected according to the anatomic development of the nasal sinus. Prompt management of this condition prevents orbital or intracranial complications, namely central nervous system infection such as meningitis or abscesses.

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References

Koltsidopoulos P, Papageorgiou E, Skoulakis C. Pott’s puffy tumor in children: A review of the literature. The Laryngoscope. 2018;130(1):225-231. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.27757.

Shemesh AJ, Panebianco NL, Chen AE. An uncommon complication of sinusitis in a young adolescent. Pediatric Emergency Care. 2015;31(7):531-532. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/pec.0000000000000491.

Feigin RD, Cherry JD. Rhinosinusitis. In: Feigin RD, Cherry JD, editors. Feigin and Cherry’s Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders; 2018.

Karadaghy OA, Lucas JC, Paroya S, Jensen D. Pott’s puffy tumor in a 23-month-old: Youngest known case of a rare disease. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2022;49(4):713-716. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2020.12.004.

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Published

2025-12-23

How to Cite

1.
Marques da Costa E, Pereira IA, Martins JS, Marques MI. Recurrent forehead swelling — a case to remember. BGMJ [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 23 [cited 2025 Dec. 27];34(4):206-8. Available from: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/bgmj/article/view/38045

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 4 (2025)

Section

Image Cases

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Elda Marques da Costa

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