Neuroendoscopy: general aspects and principles.

Abstract

When used in medicine, endoscopy describes a procedure used to see inside various parts of the body, such as the interior surfaces of an organ, by inserting a tube through a natural or created orifice. The instrument may have a rigid (borescope) or flexible (fiberscope) tube; it provides an image for visual inspection, photography and video-endoscopy and enables acquisition of biopsy specimens, removal of lesions, and retrieval of foreign objects. It is imperative that young neurosurgeons and residents become familiar and comfortable with endoscopic techniques, and it is hoped that they can contribute to the evolution and development of these surgical methods.