Nasal endoscopy and its related equipment were introduced into China in the 1980s and were initially used for the examination and diagnosis of nasal cavity and sinus diseases. The scope of treatment has gradually expanded from chronic inflammatory diseases to traumatic diseases, congenital diseases, and benign and malignant tumors. After nearly 20 years of exploration, popularization and improvement, nasal endoscopic surgery has grown from scratch, from small to large, and has become the most important branch of rhinology.
The rise of nasal endoscopic surgery has promoted the overall improvement of rhinology, mainly in the following aspects: ① the progress of surgical techniques has led to the deepening of research in related basic fields of application; ② there is a further understanding of the pathophysiological regression mechanism of related diseases; ③ the basic concept of minimally invasive surgery and operational experience gradually penetrate into clinical practice; ④ the renewal of surgical instruments has created conditions for the perfection of minimally invasive surgery; ⑤ imaging and anesthesiology have been improved. ⑤ The corresponding techniques of imaging and anesthesiology and other peripheral disciplines are becoming more and more mature. While we have made great achievements, we are also facing greater opportunities and challenges. In the past 20 years, we have summarized the gains and losses in the development of rhinology represented by nasal endoscopic surgery, which can help to grasp the direction of the future development of the discipline.