If your doctor can look in the nostril and see thick, discolored mucus coming out of a sinus opening, this strongly suggests that sinusitis is present.

In some cases a laser is used to burn away tissue blocking the sinus opening.

Discolored, thick mucus is draining from a sinus opening.

This can result in a build-up of mucus that blocks the sinus openings, and that blockage increases our risk for developing sinusitis.

When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily.

The endoscope is guided up through a nostril and into the sinus opening, but it is not able to be inserted into the sinus itself.

Surgery can remove blockages and make the sinus openings bigger.

The doctor usually makes the sinus openings bigger by removing:

The doctor puts a thin, lighted tool called an endoscope in the nose to remove small amounts of bone or tissue that block the sinus openings.

Endoscopic surgery may be done to remove small amounts of bone or other material blocking the sinus openings or to remove growths (polyps).