Clinical Skills 4 - Thyroid gland and thyroid status Flashcards
When examining the thyroid gland and status what do you look for in the general examination procedure? This is done to give clues
Hair, skin, sweating, eye changes, pulse
Tremor
Pretibial skin changes
Clothing - in relevance to environment
How is examination of the thyroid gland carried out?Inspection only first of all
Inspection - neck from the front and sides – symmetry or asymmetry; movement of thyroid on swallowing water; deep breathing to check for stridor
How is examination of the thyroid gland carried out?Palpation now
What d you end the examination by palpating and auscultating?
Palpation - Feel for size and symmetry of lobes, any nodules
Ask patient to swallow water again
Ask patient to stick out tongue - thyroglossal cyst
End by palpating the cervical lymph nodes and auscultating for bruits
Whaat are the cervical lymph nodes?
Submental
Submandibular
Anterior triangle
Posterior triangle
Pre-auricular
Post-auricular
Occipital
Supraclavicular
