Palpation of the thyroid gland
In this examination, the doctor feels the neck with his or her hands, paying attention to what the thyroid gland feels like and whether it is enlarged.
What do the results tell us?
An enlarged thyroid – also called a goiter – can be a sign of an iodine deficiency that hasn't yet affected the function of the thyroid. But it could also be a sign of an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), where too many or too few are made respectively.
Nodules that can be felt from the outside may also be a sign of a thyroid problem. But sometimes people have an enlarged thyroid gland or nodules without it affecting the function of their thyroid gland.
So this palpation examination can only tell us whether there might be a thyroid problem. Further tests and examinations are needed in order to be sure.