An endoscope is an integral piece of equipment required to look in the nose as part of a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.

In sinus surgery also referred to as functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) a ridgid endoscope is used by the surgeon in order to visualise the anatomy of the sinuses. The openings to the sinus system can then be directly visualised or indirectly visualised on a TV screen to allow the ENT surgeon to open the drainaige pathway of the sinuses or to open the sinus up itself.

The endoscope is a glass rod system developed to aid surgeons in keyhole surgery. The rod system is often called a Hopkins rod and has an attachment for a light source whilst also having a viewing end. The endoscope is placed in the nose and the eyepiece may be attached to the camera system to view where the endoscope is.

Endoscopes are now made with flexible fibres and are often used in the Outpatient setting to look in the nose and also to visualise the voice box.