Home / History / General Examination

Thyroid Gland

Protocols

 Thyroid Gland: 

Examination:; 

1)Inspection -

Inspect the neck from the front (ask the Patient to swallow)

A. Not enlarged/Enlarged 

B: Movement on deglutition:

i) if swelling moves with deglutition 

  • a) Thyroid gland 
  • b)Thyroglossal 

Ask the patient to protrude the tongue if the swelling moves, it is a thyroglossal cyst 

ii) If the swelling does not move with deglutition: 

  • a)Lymph gland 
  • b) Thyroid carcinoma with infiltration.


2. Palpation 

With the patient sitting or standing, palpate for the thyroid gland from behind. If necessary, confirm its presence by asking the patient to swallow again while palpating over the gland. 

The normal thyroid is palpable in about 50% of female and 25% of male. 

  • A.Size - transverse & vertical diameter 
  • B. Shape 
  • C. Margin - Palpable/well-defined/ill-defined 
  • D. Surface - smooth/nodular
  • E.Consistency:
    • 1. Hard - Carcinoma 
    • 2. Firm - Goitre 
  • F. Locattemperature: 


1. Normal 

2. Increase - Thyrotoxicosis 

3)Auscultation 

For bruit - in thyrotoxicosis due to increase blood supply