EENT Neck Exam

What area should the patient expose?

Neck down to the clavicles

How do you observe trachea position?

When the patient swallows

Where should the trachea be?

On the midline

What condition can cause the trachea to be deviated?

Tumor, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, atelectasis

What are you looking for when inspecting the base of the neck?

Thyroid abnormalities: enlargement, nodules, or goiter

If trachea is stuck, what might that indicate?

Cancer

Enlarged thyroid with NO nodules suggests

Infection, hyper or hypo thyroidism

Multi-nodular thyroid suggests

Systemic metabolic condition

Single nodule in thyroid suggests

Cancer

Hyperthyroidism does what to metabolism?

Speeds it up

Hypothyroidism does what to metabolism?

Slows it down

Hyperthyroidism example

Graves disease

Hypothyroidism example

Hashimotos disease

Steps for trachea exam:

1: Inform patient you are going to move their trachea

2: Instruct them not to swallow or talk

3: Inform they might hear crunching sound but that is normal

4: Gently move trachea from side to side

Steps for thyroid exam:

1: Palpate each side of thyroid ( 1 side at a time)

2: Have patient swallow while you palpate

What are the finger placements for thyroid exam?

Use 3 fingers at the base of the neck, on the lateral aspect of the trachea with the middle finger at the level of the cricoid cartilage

Hyperthyroidism AKA

Thyrotoxicosis