Training with Ultrasonography in Palpation of the Thyroid Gland for 1st-Year Medical Residents

Abstract

We have attempted to train 1st-year medical residents who have just received their medical licenses in palpation of the thyroid gland. The residents were instructed to palpate goiters by an otolaryngologist responsible for the ultrasonography laboratory for thyroid disease, and palpation findings were compared with ultrasonography findings. Each resident examined an average of 6.0 patients with diffuse goiter and 4.6 patients with nodular goiter. One year later, 75% of the residents had confidence in palpation of the thyroid gland, and every resident had palpated the thyroid gland as a part of the physical examination for all inpatients, but not for outpatients. This training was useful for familiarizing medical residents with palpation of the thyroid gland in routine physical examination.