Ear Nose & Throat (ENT)

Nasal endoscopy is a procedure to look at the nasal and sinus passages. It’s done with an endoscope. This is a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera and a light. An ear, nose, and throat doctor (otolaryngologist) will often do this procedure in his or her office.

The sinuses are a group of spaces formed by the bones of your face. They connect with your nasal cavity. This is the air-filled space behind your nose.

During the procedure, the healthcare provider inserts the endoscope into your nose. He or she guides it through your nasal and sinus passages. Images of the area can be seen through the endoscope. This can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions. In some cases, small tools may be used to take tiny samples of tissue or do other tasks.

Why might I need a nasal endoscopy?

You might need a nasal endoscopy if your healthcare provider needs more information about problems such as:

• Nasal congestion
• Nasal blockage
• Nasal and sinus infection (rhinosinusitis)
• Nasal polyps
• Nasal tumors
• Nosebleeds
• Loss of ability to smell
• Cerebrospinal fluid leak

The endoscopy can show specific details, such as the site of bleeding and swelling of nasal tissue. It can also be used to look at a growth that might be cancer. In some cases, a nasal endoscopy can be used as a treatment. For example, it may be done on a child to remove a foreign object from his or her nose.

Your provider might also advise endoscopy to see how a treatment for a nose or sinus problem is working. For example, it can show if nasal polyps have shrunk. Rhinosinusitis is one of the most common reasons for nasal endoscopy. You may have symptoms such as nasal blockage, yellow or greenish fluid from your nose, and facial pain. Your healthcare provider can use the endoscope to look for swelling and polyps. He or she may collect pus from the infected area. This can help show what is causing an infection and how best to treat it.

A healthcare provider may use a nasal endoscope to do minimally invasive surgery. This is done in a hospital or surgery center. It can treat conditions such as sinus infection, nasal polyps, and nasal tumors. The surgery is done with very small tools, and does not need an external cut (incision).