Palpation of the thyroid gland is relatively specialized and self-examination is not recommended. If there is currently a high suspicion of goiter, diagnosis can be made by doctor’s palpation and ultrasonography.
1. Doctor’s palpation: When goiter occurs, some patients may feel localized swelling, which may be accompanied by compression symptoms such as difficulty in breathing and swallowing in severe cases. If there are similar cases, it is recommended to consult a doctor and make a diagnosis by doctor’s palpation to find out the grade of goiter, whether there are thyroid nodules and whether the nodules are mobile.
2. Ultrasonography: If the doctor finds abnormal reaction on palpation or highly suspects that there is goiter, ultrasonography should be done as soon as possible to clarify the exact location of the goiter and whether there is any risk of malignant lesions.
If a goiter is found through the above examination, or if there are thyroid nodules, the next step of examination is needed, and the patient should be further diagnosed and treated under the guidance of a specialist.