Examination of thyroid

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Examination of thyroid


  • enlarge thyroid known as a goitre

Examination

  • Inspect
  • Movement on swallowing
  • Palpate from behind
    • check for tenderness
    • look over head for exophthalmos
    • feel with swallow
      • goitre should move up
    • palpate
      • shape
      • size
      • single / multiple
      • texture
      • thrill
      • cervical lymph nodes
  • From front
    • tracheal deviation
  • Percuss
    • lower limit of retrosternal extension
  • Auscultate
    • bruit

Assess Thyroid status

  • Inspect
    • skin / face
      • dry / shiny
    • build
      • thin / fat
    • dress
      • appropriate for temperature
    • behaviour
      • agitated / lethargic
  • Hands
    • palms
      • erythema
      • sweaty
    • nails
      • thyroid acropachy
    • pulse
    • hold outstretched to check for tremor
  • Eyes
    • conjunctiva
    • lid lag
    • double vision
      • ophthalmoplegia
  • neurological
    • rise from squatting
      • proximal myopathy
    • reflexes - supinator / biceps
      • slow-relaxing
 

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