Neuroendoscopy: current applications and future directions

Endoscopy is ideally suited to any organ that is hollow and fluid filled. The ventricular system, although only 10% of the total intracranial volume, is the site of many pathological processes. It is filled with crystal clear cerebrospinal fluid and lined thoughout by ependyma. Unfortunately access to it is invariably through normal brain tissue, but morbidity can be limited by choosing areas that are not as eloquent as others. The size of the ventricles limits the type of scope and instrumentation that can be used, but as technology advances these limitations are diminishing.