Endonasal Endoscopy

An endonasal endoscopy, or endoscopic endonasal surgery, is a minimally invasive form of brain surgery that can be used to remove tumors located near the base of the brain. When removing a tumor from one of these hard-to-reach locations, a surgeon can insert an endoscope (flexible tube with a small camera and tiny surgical instruments attached) through the nasal passages instead of making a traditional surgical incision.

Typically, an endonasal endoscopy takes between two and six hours to complete, which is significantly less than the time usually required to complete a traditional brain operation. Additionally:

• Because this approach does not require a surgeon to make a large incision or remove a portion of a patient’s skull, the recovery process for an endonasal endoscopy is often shorter and simpler than it is for traditional brain tumor surgery.
• As a minimally invasive procedure, endoscopic endonasal surgery is typically associated with fewer complications, as well as lower infection rates, than open brain surgery.

At Moffitt Cancer Center, we use today’s most advanced surgical techniques to produce the best possible outcomes for our patients. Our surgeons are trained in both traditional and minimally invasive techniques, selecting the most promising approach for each situation based on a number of patient-specific factors. As part of our individualized approach to surgical treatment, we consider a patient’s quality of life and individual needs when recommending a brain cancer procedure.

Referrals are not required to make an appointment at Moffitt. To schedule a consultation with a surgical oncologist who can tell you more about an endonasal endoscopy, call 1-888-663-3488 or submit a new patient registration form online.