A cart or man-portable system and method for performing endoscopic procedures are provided. A portable display device, such as a laptop computer (292), is coupled to a handle (32) comprising a miniature camera and fiber optic illumination subsystem (26). A sterile disposable portion (34) is fitted over the illumination subsystem and inserted into a target area on a patient. Images of the target area are conveyed from the camera to the display device while an endoscopic procedure is performed, thus facilitating real-time diagnosis during the procedure.
