Scanning endoscope system includes a first optical fiber for emitting illumination light supplied from a predetermined light source and guided to the exit end the subject, the peripheral portion from the central portion of the irradiation light in the generally circular scan region The receiving optical fiber scanning means for rotating the exit end of the optical fiber in a spiral shape so as to rotate scanned spirally, and a light source control means for controlling the light emission of the illumination light, the return light returned from the object toward the further comprising an image signal detecting means for detecting an image signal and an image generating means for generating an image of an object by using the detected image signal, the light source control means, when the irradiation light is scanning the central portion in the scanning region , the light is emitted to irradiate light in a pulsed manner, the irradiation light when scanning the peripheral portion in the scanning region, it is continuously emitting illumination light.走査型内視鏡システムが、所定の光源より供給される照射光を射出端まで導光し被写体に射出する第一の光ファイバと、照射光が略円形の走査領域内で中心部から周辺部に向って渦巻状に回転走査するように光ファイバの射出端を渦巻状に回転駆動させる光ファイバ走査手段と、照射光の発光を制御する光源制御手段と、被写体より戻される戻り光を受光し画像信号を検出する画像信号検出手段と、検出された画像信号を用いて被写体の画像を生成する画像生成手段とを備え、光源制御手段は、照射光が走査領域内の中心部を走査するときに、照射光をパルス状に発光させ、照射光が走査領域内の周辺部を走査するときに、照射光を連続的に発光させる。
