scanning endoscope system includes a light guide portion for guiding the illumination light, a driving unit for the irradiation position of the illumination light to swing the light guide portion so as to draw a locus corresponding to a predetermined scan pattern, lighting a light receiving portion for receiving light of the return light, a scanning endoscope provided with a light detecting unit for outputting a signal corresponding to the intensity of the return light, the outermost of the irradiation position is spiral trajectory of the illuminating light a first scanning toward the center point from a point, from the center point of the trajectory irradiation position spiral illumination light and the second scan toward the outermost point, along with sequentially performed, the irradiation position of the illumination light is the same circle and a control unit for driving the drive unit to perform third scan orbiting the upper periphery.走査型内視鏡システムは、照明光を導く導光部と、照明光の照射位置が所定の走査パターンに応じた軌跡を描くように導光部を揺動させる駆動部と、照明光の戻り光を受光する受光部と、を備えた走査型内視鏡と、戻り光の強度に応じた信号を出力する光検出部と、照明光の照射位置が渦巻状の軌跡の最外点から中心点へ向かう第1の走査と、照明光の照射位置が渦巻状の軌跡の中心点から最外点へ向かう第2の走査と、を順次行うとともに、照明光の照射位置が同一円周上を周回する第3の走査を行うように駆動部を駆動させる制御部と、を有する。
