1. This station may start in one of a number of ways. You may be given a history of hyper- or hypothyroid or you may simply be asked to examine the patient's neck or thyroid gland - either way you should approach the situation systematically and not just jump straight into feeling the neck.

2. Take an initial observation of the patient. Do they seem abnormally hyper- or hypoactive? Do they appear sweaty? What condition is their skin and hair? Does their voice sound normal? Any abnormalities should be reported to the examiner.

3. A dysfunctioning thyroid gland may give stigmata of disease in many places so, as always, it is best to start with the hands. You should first feel the hands for any sweating. Look for any tremor - placing a piece of paper on the backs of the patient's outstretched hands may show this. Check the nails for any thyroid acropatchy - similar to clubbing, or onycholysis - where the nail comes away from the nail bed. You should also observe for any palmar erythema which may occur in hyperthyroidism.

4. Next you should feel the pulse. It may be tachy or bradycardic if a thyroid condition is present.

5. You should now move onto the neck. Observe it as a whole but pay particular attention to the area of the thyroid gland. You should look from the front and the side looking for any obvious abnormalities, scars or swellings.

6. Hand the patient a glass of water and observe them as they take a drink. Watch the movement of any swellings as they drink as this can help to differentiate between different causes.

7. Next you should feel the gland. The approach is from behind so always tell the patient what you will be doing and that you will be behing them. Warn them again just before you actually touch their neck.

8. Feel the entire length of both lobes of the gland as well as the isthmus. Note any swellings or abnormal lumps. You should note the shape and consistency of any lumps as well as whether they are tender or mobile. You should also feel while the patient drinks to assess whether the lump moves with swallowing.

9. Whilst still behind the patient, you should take the opportunity to examine the cervical lymph nodes. You should also examine the eyes from nehind and above to look for any exophthalmos - another sign of hyperthyroidism.

10. Finally you should auscultate the thyroid. A bruit, a sign of increased blood flow, may be heard in hyperthyroidism.

© Matthew Green and Laura Henderson 2006.