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Endoscopic surgery has developed dramatically in the last few decades in otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery. Conventional sinus surgery with an external approach has been replaced by endoscopic sinus surgery, with endoscopic surgical techniques applied on structures of the sinus, including the nasal septum, orbit, and skull base. Endoscopic ear surgery was introduced with diagnostic methods initially, and has transformed surgical concepts in recent years. Endoscopic upper airway surgery was popularized in the 1970s, and its applications have been extended while minimizing morbidity. Endoscopic thyroidectomy is currently performed in some patients with large benign thyroid tumors or micropapillary carcinomas. The applications of endoscopic surgery will be extended to other parts of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]