Pott's Puffy Tumor: Intracranial Extension Not Requiring Neurosurgical Intervention

Pott Puffy Tumor in Adults: The Τiming of Surgical Ιntervention

Pott’s puffy tumor (PPT) represents a rare complication of frontal sinusitis, and it is considered as a subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bone based on osteomyelitis.

We report two adult PPT patients and discuss the treatment plan as well as the correct timing of surgical intervention. Clinical examination revealed sinusitis with puss, and imaging findings showed bony erosion of the dorsal wall of the frontal sinus in both patients. In case 1, a “wait and see” approach was followed with remission of the patient’s symptoms, and a Draf IIb type was performed 21 days after discharge. In case 2, worsening of symptoms led to surgical drainage through a Lynch incision followed by 20 days of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Then a Draf type IIa was performed. Both patients received antibiotic therapy over the course of six weeks and had full recovery.

We highlight the importance of the correct timing of surgical intervention as it is depended on the clinical and radiological findings. The timing to performing radical drainage surgery including external or endoscopic frontal sinus surgery is not determined in the literature. Worsening of common symptoms and neurological signs in adult PPT patients means by default an immediate surgical intervention. Reduction of symptoms and antibiotic treatment response means that surgery should be delayed and performed in a surgical field free of inflammation.