Endoscopy plays a role in the diagnosis and treatment of many different conditions. The endoscopy platforms continue to grow into areas amenable to endoscopic visualization, particularly the epidural space, spinal cord, and contiguous structures. A review of medical literature shows that clinicians have been working with various types of endoscopes for more than 60 years, with varying degrees of success. Today, fiberoptic technology has been integrated with computer-enhanced imaging to provide a new medium for viewing the central nervous system. The initial results are promising and will likely pave the way for newer, less invasive means of diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system pathology. The direct visualization of the spinal canal and its contents was born in 1931 from the pioneering work of Michael Burman.
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