What is nasal endoscopy?

An endoscope is a small and thin (less than the size of a pencil) rigid or flexible viewing tube with a light on one end and an eyepiece or camera attached to a video monitor on the other end. It is used to look through small holes into larger spaces. Endoscopes are used by many types of doctors to evaluate spaces within the body including the lungs, stomach, nose and sinuses. In addition, ENT doctors use endoscopes to look at the vocal cords and other throat tissue.

Nasal endoscopic is commonly performed within the office. Before a nasal endoscopic the staff will spray your nose with a topical decongestant, to reduce the swelling and widen the path for the endoscope, and a topical anesthetic, which numbs the nose and helps decrease the chance of sneezing. The procedure is not usually painful, but some patients experience discomfort from the pressure of the endoscope. More numbing spray or a pediatric scope may help with such discomfort.

Nasal endoscopic allows a detailed examination of the nasal and sinus cavities. During the endoscopic, the physician or other certified provider will look for areas of swelling in the mucosal membranes,