Image-guided endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses modern imaging technology to help surgeons remove tumors without the need for incisions and at a lower risk to the patient. In an endoscopic surgery a thin, rigid tube called an endoscope, which has a microscope, light and camera built into it, is inserted through the nose, allowing the surgeon to monitor the procedure on a screen while the instruments used to remove the tumor are inserted through the other nostril.

On their own, endoscopes provide surgeons with a greater degree of comfort and maneuverability during the procedure; they give surgeons a wider or more adjustable field of view, as well as the ability to get closer to the pituitary gland and tumors and less disruption to the tissues, as the instruments are smaller.