Modern examination of the nose is done with the rigid endoscope, a thin telescope with a diameter of 4 mm. For children or special cases, an even thinner scope can be used, with diameter of 2.9 mm. The scope is typically connected to a camera, and the examination is done through a appropriate monitor.
The examination is simple and painless. If needed, topical preparation of the nose with cotton pledgets soaked in local anaesthetic may precede the endoscopy.
The endoscope of the outpatient’s clinic is similar to the scope used in the operating theatre for Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.