module 2

Questions

Findings

Current Symptoms as reported by assessment partner

1. Reported nodules or lesions on head or neck.

2. Difficulty moving head or neck.

3. Facial or neck pain or frequent headaches.

4. Dizziness, lightheadedness, spinning sensation, or loss of consciousness.

Past History

5. Previous head or neck problems/trauma/injury (surgery, medication, physical or radiation therapy) results.

Family History

6. Family history of head and/or neck cancer.

7. Family history of migraine headaches.

Lifestyle and Health Practices

8. Do you smoke or chew tobacco? Amount? Secondhand smoke?

9. Do you wear a helmet or hard hat?

10. Typical posture when relaxing, during sleep, and when working.

11. Satisfaction with appearance.

Questions

Findings

Head and Face

1. Inspect head for size, shape, and configuration.

2. Palpate head for consistency while wearing gloves.

3. Inspect face for symmetry, features, movement, expression, and skin condition.

4. Palpate temporal artery for tenderness and elasticity.

5. Palpate temporomandibular joint for range of motion, swelling, tenderness, or crepitation by placing index finger over the front of each and asking client to open mouth.

Neck

6. Inspect neck while it is in a slightly extended position (and using a light) for position, symmetry, and presence of lumps and masses.

7. Inspect movement of thyroid and cricoid cartilage and thyroid gland by having client swallow a small sip of water.

8. Inspect cervical vertebrae by having client flex neck.

9. Inspect neck range of motion by having client turn chin to right and left shoulder, touch each ear to the shoulder, touch chin to chest, and lift chin to ceiling.

10. Palpate trachea by placing your finger in the sternal notch, feeling to each side, and palpating the tracheal rings.

11. Palpate the thyroid gland.

12. Auscultate thyroid gland for bruits (use both bell and diaphragm of stethoscope).

Lymph nodes: Palpate lymph nodes for size/shape, mobility, and tenderness (refer to display on characteristics of lymph nodes)

13..Preauricular nodes (front of ears)

14. Postauricular nodes (behind the ears)

15. Occipital nodes (posterior base of skull)

16. Tonsillar nodes (angle of the mandible, on the anterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle)

17. Submandibular nodes (medial border of the mandible); do not confuse with the lobulated submandibular gland

18. Submental nodes (a few centimeters behind the tip of the mandible); use one hand

19. Superficial cervical nodes (superficial to the sternomastoid muscle)

20. Posterior cervical nodes (posterior to the sternocleidomastoid and anterior to the trapezius in the posterior triangle)

21. Deep cervical chain nodes (deep within and around the sternomastoid muscle)

22. Supraclavicular nodes (hook fingers over clavicles and feel deeply between the clavicles and the sternomastoid muscles)