A history of ventricular neuroendoscopy

To describe the history of neuroendoscopy through the history of the major neurosurgeons who worked and published in the field.

All relevant data described in publications before 1980 about the history of neuroendoscopy and found through OVID MEDLINE searches and related references are reported.

Contributions of 14 neurosurgeons who were pioneers in neuroendoscopy are described in chronologic order: Lespinasse, Dandy, Payr, Mixter, Fay, Grant, Volkmann, Putnam, Dereymacker, Scarff, Feld, Guiot, Fukushima, and Griffith.

An historical review of ventricular neuroendoscopy remains by essence incomplete. Medical technical progress proceeds by leaps and bounds, related to the ingenuity of surgeons able to understand rapidly the value of a technical change to improve their surgical procedure. The ability to remain attentive to patients and evolving pathologies as well as the evolution of modern technology is required to make further progress in neuroendoscopy.