Thyroid gland palpation has anterior palpation method and posterior palpation method.
I. When palpating in front, the examinee takes a sitting position and the examiner stands in front of the examinee.
1. Firstly, isthmus palpation, with the thumb touching upward from the upper sternal notch, the soft tissue in front of the trachea can be touched to determine whether there is any thickening. At this time, the examinee is asked to make a swallowing movement, and the soft tissue can be felt to slide under the finger to determine whether there is any enlargement and mass.
2. After that, the palpation of both lobes of the thyroid gland, the thumb of one hand applies pressure to the thyroid cartilage on one side, pushing the trachea to the opposite side, the other hand shows, the middle finger in the opposite side of the posterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle forward to squeeze the lateral lobe of the thyroid gland, the thumb in the anterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle palpation, the subject to cooperate with the swallowing motion, repeat the examination, can be touched to the pushed out of the thyroid gland. The other lobe of the thyroid is examined in the same way.
When palpating the back, the examinee takes a sitting position and the examiner stands behind the examinee.
1. Firstly, the isthmus is palpated with the finger from the upper sternal notch upward, and the soft tissue in front of the trachea can be touched to determine whether there is any thickening. At this time, the examinee is asked to make a swallowing movement, and the soft tissue can be felt to slide under the finger to determine whether there is any enlargement and mass.
2. After that, the palpation of both lobes of the thyroid gland is performed. One hand’s index and middle fingers apply pressure on the thyroid cartilage of one lobe and push the trachea to the opposite side; the thumb of the other hand pushes the thyroid forward at the posterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the opposite side, and the index and middle fingers palpate the thyroid at its anterior edge. The examination is repeated with a swallowing maneuver. Examine the other thyroid in the same way.
If thyroid disease is suspected it is recommended to go to the hospital.