The role of endoscopy in the allergist's office

The introduction of nasal endoscopy has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of patients with sinonasal disorders. The brilliant illumination and magnification afforded by the nasal endoscopes has markedly enhanced the current knowledge of sinonasal anatomy and understanding of patterns of mucociliary clearance. Nasal endoscopy facilitates accurate diagnosis of sinonasal pathology and assessment of response to medical and surgical therapy by serial examination. Rigid telescopes also facilitate office-based procedures, including cultures of purulent secretions and biopsy of sinonasal masses. Indeed, nasal endoscopy forms the foundation of the surgical paradigm of functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In this review, the rationale, technique and current state of endoscopic applications of nasal endoscopy are described, with special focus on the role of endoscopy in the allergist's office.