Thyroid Examination

Inspection

Ask the patient to extend the neck and look for swelling c either side of the trachea or in front of it. Ask the patient to swallow. Any swelling that moves up with laryngeal cartilage on swallowing is enlarged thyroid.

Palpation

Put both of your hands over the swelling ( from front or back ) and palpate. Ask the patient to swallow and note various characteristics (size, diffuse, single or multiple, unilateral or bilateral, consistency and tenderness) as swelling moves under your fingers.

Percussion

Sometimes percussion of thyroid is also done to look for retrosternal thyroid.

Auscultation

Ask the patient to hold his / her breath and auscultate thyroid for bruit with the bell of stethoscope.

Retrosternal Thyroid

Pemberton's sign is checked to look for retrosternal thyroid. When patient is asked to raise the arms above his head. There is stridor, face become congested and neck veins become distended (positive Pemberton's sign)