Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “PALPATION”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Pyloric volume: an important factor in the surgeon's ability to palpate the pyloric "olive" in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether the size of the pyloric mass is one of the factors in the surgeon's ability to palpate the pyloric "olive". MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ultrasonographic images and medical records of 60 infants with surgically confirmed hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) were reviewed. The pyloric diameter (PD) and pyloric length (PL) were measured and the pyloric volume (PV) was calculated using the equation PV = 1/4pi x (PD)2 x PL. Based on the pediatric surgeon's physical examination the infants were divided into two groups: those with and those without palpable pyloric masses. RESULTS: Infants with a palpable pyloric mass had an average pyloric volume of 3.33 +/- 1.76 mm3, which was statistically larger than those whose hypertrophied pylorus could not be palpated (average volume 2.59 +/- 2.07 mm3, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant age difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Clinical skill of the examiner and other clinical aspects (patient cooperation, etc.) determine palpability of the pylorus in HPS. The size of the hypertrophied pylorus is also an important factor affecting the clinician's ability to palpate the pyloric mass.

Age Factors↗

Comparison of arthrographic findings of the temporomandibular joint with palpation of the muscles of mastication.

Two hundred five patients were examined for temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction and specifically for tenderness to muscle palpation. Arthrograms were performed on 222 joints (188 unilateral and 17 bilateral). Significant findings were ascertained for the middle portion of the temporal muscle in "normal" patients versus "with and without meniscus reduction" patients. The superficial masseter muscle was more tender in "normal" patients and in "reducing meniscus" patients than in "without meniscus reduction" patients. The medial pterygoid muscle was more tender in "normal" patients and in "without meniscus reduction" patients than in "reducing meniscus" patients. Though there are some significant findings with respect to muscle palpation, by itself muscle palpation is not a specific indicator of temporomandibular joint internal derangement.

Arthrography↗

Sonography versus palpation in the detection of regional lymph-node metastases in patients with malignant melanoma.

High-resolution real-time sonography was done in 217 patients with malignant melanoma to compare its value in detecting regional lymph-node metastases with that of palpation. Lymph-node metastases were found in 29 patients by ultrasound whereas, by palpation, metastases were detected in 15 patients only. The presence of metastases was proven by histopathology after surgical lymphadenectomy in these ultrasound positive cases. Thus sonography was superior to palpation, and in addition permitted distinction between metastatic changes and inflammatory lymph-node enlargement. Ultrasound is recommended for preoperative staging as well as in postoperative monitoring of patients with malignant melanoma.

Adult↗

Sacrospinous ligament fixation by palpation: variation of the Richter procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To present our method of sacro-spinous ligament fixation by palpation and compare it to the classical approach described by Richter. MATERIAL: In addition to the standard instruments needed for vaginal surgery, we use a Rasemond dissector, a small O'Shaugnessy dissector with smooth branches. We also use a Bengolea forceps and a monothread-nylon (Ethilon), decimal 4 suture loaded on a needle with a 30-mm curve. PATIENTS: Twenty patients underwent this procedure from 03/15/1978 to 05/19/1995. Their ages ranged from 46 to 86 years with a mean age of 64.7 years. METHOD: This was a retrospective study of the indications, results and complications associated with this technique. RESULTS: With an average follow-up of 7 years, we observed 90% success, 10% recurrences, and no complication directly attributable to this technique. This technique is valuable because of its effectiveness and simplicity. CONCLUSIONS: Sacrospinous fixation by palpation is more simple and provides the same results as the classic exposure technique. We describe the technique in this text. The efficacy of sacro-spinous ligament fixation by palpation would be improved by its systematic and bilateral use. Its value must be confirmed by a controlled prospective study to confirm our impression that our technique carries fewer risks.

Aged↗

Application of tissue ultrasound palpation system (TUPS) in objective scar evaluation.

One of the characteristics of hypertrophic scarring is its raised appearance. Its maturation often results in increased thickness. Therapists usually rely on subjective observation and palpation to document scar thickness. The result of these subjective assessments may reflect only the superficial scar thickness but is unable to measure the whole scar volume and thickness under the skin surface. Measurement of scar thickness using ultrasound imaging has been previously reported, but has not been commonly used in clinics due to its complex operation method and high cost. In this study, we have adopted a newly developed and user-friendly Tissue ultrasound palpation system (TUPS) for the assessment of scar thickness. It consists of a finger size palpation probe, connected to an ultrasound transducer and an in-series load cell to measure the thickness of the soft tissue over the human body. The method of operation is easy and it can be used to measure skin thickness on various parts of the body, thus reflecting the skin thickness. The reliability of the TUPS in clinical application was tested on 30 subjects with a hypertrophic scar at a local hospital. Three raters implemented two assessments on each subject to study its test-retest and inter-rater reliabilities. It was then used to assess 100 subjects with various severity of hypertrophic scar caused by trauma, scald, burn or surgery. They were assessed using TUPS as well as the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) for rating scar thickness, pliability, pigmentation and vascularity. Two-way mixed intra-class correlation showed a high test-retest reliability with Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC)=0.98 and inter-rater reliability ICC=0.84. Fair positive correlations with VSS thickness score and VSS total score r=0.34 (p<0.05) and 0.42 (p<0.05), respectively. A significant difference between two scar type groups (50 burn scald scars and 50 surgical scars) was demonstrated (d.f.=52.94, t=3.99, p<0.01). TUPS was proved to have high inter-rater, test-retest reliability and it had a moderate correlation with the VSS that clinicians used for assessment of the scar. This system is recommended for clinical assessment of scar thickness.

Adolescent↗

The electromyographic activity of thoracic paraspinal muscles identified as abnormal with palpation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity of deep muscles in the thoracic paravertebral gutter (PVG) detected as abnormal to palpation (AbPT) and reported as tender by the subject with muscles underlying nontender (NT), normal to palpation sites under various experimental conditions. METHODS: Twelve subjects (mean age, 25.42 years; range, 22-43 years) participated in this study. Fine-wire, bipolar intramuscular electrodes were inserted, under real-time ultrasonic guidance, into the deep paravertebral muscle mass underlying 1 AbPT and 2 NT sites (1 segment above and below the AbPT site) in the thoracic PVG regions. Electromyographic activity was recorded under the following conditions: resting prone, prone active trunk extension, application of pressure (300 kPa) to adjacent spinous processes, resting seated, passive and active seated trunk rotation, and supporting 2-kg weights in outstretched arms. RESULTS: Mean EMG activity was highest at the AbPT site, relative to NT sites, under all conditions, with a significant between-group effect of site (F2,31 = 4.13, P = .03) and large between-group effect size (eta2 = 0.21). There was also a trend for lower percentage change from baseline resting at the AbPT sites, relative to the NT sites, in response to the demand of other conditions. There were large variations in EMG activity within and between individuals, and large SDs accompanied the mean values of EMG activity in all cases. CONCLUSION: Increased motor activity may be a contributing factor to tissue changes in the PVG detected with palpation. However, caution must be used when interpreting these results because of the large variations, small sample size, and issues associated with EMG normalization.

Adult↗

Reliability of palpation of humeral head position in asymptomatic shoulders.

The purpose of this study was to determine if, within a normal population: (1) palpation of the humeral head, relative to the acromion, in three static positions, was a reliable technique (2) there was a difference in humeral head position between the dominant and non-dominant shoulders in the three positions (3) there was a difference in humeral head position relative to the acromion between the arm at side (AS), the 90 degrees abduction/external rotation (AER) and 90 degrees abduction/internal rotation (AIR) positions. This test-retest study recorded palpation landmarks using a standardized protocol. Intra-tester reliability was above 0.8 for both AS and AER and all other ICCs were below 0.6. There was no systematic difference between dominant and non-dominant sides in any of the three positions (AS P=0.408, AER P=0.448, AIR P=0.233). There was a significant difference in measurements between each position (P<0.001). It can be concluded that, palpation of humeral head position in relation to the acromion is a reliable technique in the AS position. These normative data provide a baseline that can be used for future comparison if differences are found to exist in subgroups with pathological shoulder conditions where larger glenohumeral translations are thought to exist.

Adult↗

Inter-examiner reliability of four static palpation tests used for assessing pelvic dysfunction.

In muscle energy technique (MET), palpation is an important tool aimed at detecting asymmetry and selecting interventions. The aim of this study was to test the inter-examiner reliability of static palpation of the transverse processes of L5 (L5), sacral sulci (SS), inferior lateral angles of the sacrum (ILA), and the medial malleoli (MM) in a clinical setting. Twenty-five participants, aged 18-78 years, with low back pain and/or sacroiliac pain with or without radiating pain to the knee, were independently examined by two experienced physiotherapists. For L5, SS, ILA, the proportion of observed agreement was 40-44% and the kappa coefficient 0.11 (SE=0.12) to 0.17 (SE=0.10). For MM, the observed agreement was 52% and the kappa coefficient 0.28 (SE=0.15). Differences in palpation technique seem to be the most likely source of the low inter-examiner reliability in this study. For clinical practise, continued use of these tests as methods for detecting asymmetry and selecting interventions is of doubtful utility.

Adolescent↗

[Palpation and CT to evaluate the cervical adenopathies in head and neck tumours].

Lymphatic metastasis is an important prognostic factor in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Diagnostic evaluation and treatment of this adenopathies is very important. We can use physical examination, computered tomography (CT), magnetic resonance, ultrasound... but none of these give us a 100% security. This study evaluates the accuracy of physical examination and CT in detecting cervical lymph nodes. 120 neck dissections were performed after palpation and CT of 72 patients with head and neck carcinoma. Sensitivity of palpation was 51.7 and specificity 96.7. CTs sensitivity was 65 and specificity 86.7. Both, physical examination and palpation have a high number of mistakes evaluating cervical nodes. N0 necks are still a problem for Head and Neck Surgeons.

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗

Assessment of intraocular pressure by palpation.

PURPOSE/METHODS: Corneal specialists may assess the intraocular pressure by palpation although this technique has never been validated. We explored the reliability of a tactile assessment of the intraocular pressure in comparison to Goldmann tonometry. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: There was little correlation between tactile assessment of the intraocular pressure and tonometry. However, palpation was moderately successful in identifying most eyes (five of seven eyes) with an intraocular pressure greater than 30 mm Hg. Although palpation was generally inaccurate, it may serve as a warning for marked increases in intraocular pressure exceeding 30 mm Hg.

Humans↗

Clinical target volume localization using conventional methods (anatomy and palpation) and ultrasonography in early breast cancer post-operative external irradiation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of three methods, anatomy (A), palpation (P) and ultrasounds (US) in localizing the clinical target volume (CTV) in patients (pts) with early breast cancer (EBC) undergoing breast external irradiation as part of conservation therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive pts with EBC (T(is) 1%, T1 78%, T2 21%, N- 68%, N+ 32%), treated with conservation surgery and breast irradiation with opposed tangential portals, were prospectively analyzed. Anatomically, palpatory or ultrasound defined field borders for CTV localizations were determined in the same position thanks to the utilization of a vacuum-formed cellulose acetate immobilization cast, removed during CTV definitions. RESULTS: P and US CTV localizations have been found to coincide on the four margins (superior, inferior, medial, lateral) in only 1/100 pts, while no pt showed identical A and US CTV localizations. Only 31/397 (8%) field measurements with A, and 98/395 (25%) with P corresponded to US border definition. If mean and median values of each field border were considered, the CTV was generally overestimated with P appearing more accurate than A in a gross definition of the target (P < 0.01). However, a geographical miss of at least one field border of CTV occurred in 55% of pts with A and in 36% of pts with P. The most critical margin to be defined with conventional methods was the superior one: an underestimation of the cranial border of CTV with A was observed in 51% and with P in 22% of pts (22% and 8%, respectively, when an underestimation by more than 1.5 cm was considered). When pre-menopausal and peri/post-menopausal groups of pts were separately analyzed, conventional methods were highly inaccurate to define the superior border in younger pts, in which a geographical miss was noted with A in 62% and with P in 35% of cases (P < 0.05). When an underestimation of more than 1.5 cm was evaluated, these values were reduced to 33% and 12%, respectively (P = 0.02). Also, in the subgroup of pre-menopausal patients the CTV defined by palpatory reference lines appeared to be more accurate than A-method (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Conventional methods frequently appear inadequate to localize residual mammary gland in EBC post-operative external irradiation. This analysis evidentiates the inaccuracy of empirical CTV definition, and suggests that palpation or anatomical reference borders should be critically used and that state of art imaging methods should be included in treatment planning, particularly in pre-menopausal pts. If economical or individual variables have to be taken into account, palpation might be considered in post-menopausal women.

Adult↗

Comparison of palpation-guided and ultrasound-guided biopsies in transplanted kidneys.

UNLABELLED: Biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of conditions affecting the function of renal allografts. Obtaining representative tissue in biopsies is critical but these procedures are associated with up to 9% of complications and 20% of inadequate material. Although ultrasound guidance allows perfect control of depth and location of the graft, there is controversy regarding the cost-benefit of its use and reports of unsuitable material in ultrasound-guided biopsies are still high. PURPOSE: To compare ultrasound with the palpation method to guide biopsies in order to see if there is any difference between both methods and which one is better. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The casuistic consisted of 82 renal transplant patients (32 female and 50 male patients, age ranging between 5 and 64 yr; m=31.2 yr) randomized into two groups: GI, palpation-guided; GII, ultrasound-guided. Fifty-six biopsies were performed in GI and 66 in GII. RESULTS: Number of glomeruli, arcuate, and interlobar arteries and arterioles were compared in the two groups and were 503 (m=10) vs. 801 (m=12.9), 24 (m=0.5) vs. 38 (m=0.6), 104 (m=2.1) vs. 154 (m=2.5), and 174 (m=3.5) vs. 264 (4.3), respectively (p<0.05). Inadequate material for analysis in GI and GII was 7.1 and 7.6%, respectively (p=0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Although ultrasound guidance improves the number of glomeruli, arcuate, and interlobar arteries, as well as arterioles, compared with palpation-guided biopsies, there is no difference in the rate of adequate material between the two methods.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of a conventional reproductive management programme based on rectal palpation and uterine treatment of endometritis with a strategic prostaglandin F2 alpha programme.

Two reproductive management programmes were implemented on a dairy farm with 780 cows in milk to compare their effects on reproductive efficiency and endometritis. The herd was divided into two groups. All cows in Group 1 received 0.15 mg of D-cloprostenol (Preloban, Hoechst Roussel Vet, Wiesbaden) intramuscularly (i.m.) at 14-day intervals starting at 22-28 days postpartum (pp) until breeding. Group 2 was examined by rectal palpation twice during the third and fifth weeks pp, respectively. Cows that showed signs of endometritis were treated with a uterine infusion of 720 mg polycondensated m-cresolsulphuric acid-formaldehyd (14:1) in 150 ml of water (Lotagen, 2%, Essex Tierarznei, München). For both groups, the voluntary waiting period was set at 50 days pp. Cows were bred on observed oestrus. Cows not bred until day 71 pp were examined by rectal palpation and treated according to a predefined protocol. Group 1 had a higher service rate, and reduced days to first service (P < 0.05) and days open (7.6 days, P = 0.08). First service conception rate and total conception rate were lower than in Group 2 (P < 0.05) and first service conception rate was considerably lower than second service conception rate in Group 1 (P < 0.01). Days open were 4.5 days higher and conception rates were lower in cows with endometritis than in cows without endometritis at post-partum examination (P > 0.05). Results indicate that reproductive management programmes based on strategic use of prostaglandin F2 alpha present an alternative to conventional reproductive management programmes based on rectal palpation and uterine infusions in large dairy herds.

Animals↗

[Comparative studies of the uterine cervix in pregnancy using palpation and vaginal sonography].

Ultrasonography and manual palpation were used to evaluate the uterine cervix of 71 pregnant women between 14th and 36th week of gestational age. The sonographic length of the uterine cervix was about 4.2 cm according to the relevant cervix palpation (Group I), about 3.2 cm in the moderately shortened cervix (Group II) and about 2.8 cm in the severely shortened cervix (Group III). The distance between the surface of the ectocervix to the urinary bladder corresponded to the cervical palpation showing a constant difference of about 0.5 cm. No difference could be found in the width of the upper cervix. The index was determined as ratio of the sonographically ascertained cervical length and width of the supravaginal cervix. A value of 0.8 or lower describes a cervical incompetence of a higher degree and signifies an unfavourable prognosis. The evaluation of cervical incompetence and the relevance of the sonographically detected opened internal os have not yet been clarified. A hitherto unsolved problem is the dilatation of the cervical canal in case of immature palpatory findings with traumatic anamnesis.

Adult↗

[The value of gynecologic ultrasonography in comparison with gynecologic palpation].

210 patients were included in a prospective study comparing the respective advantages of pelvic sonography and bimanual gynaecological palpation. The diagnoses resulting from these two methods were confirmed in each case at the anatomic situs by laparotomy and also histologically. Each kind of examination was conducted independently by one of two different teams to exclude any mutual influence on the diagnosis. Under these conditions, 158 (75.2%) of the sonographic examinations and 144 (68.6%) of the gynaecological palpations resulted in a correct diagnosis. This difference was not significant. However, these data varied depending on pathological findings. In 165 patients, uterus pathology was diagnosed sonographically. This result was only slightly better than that of the gynaecological examinations. Sonography was significantly more accurate (p less than 0.01) only in determining the uterus length. However, sonography was clearly superior in the diagnosis of pelvic, in particular ovarian, tumours. In 45 patients with proven tumorous growth in this area, the sonographic diagnosis proved correct in 34 cases (75.6%), palpation however only in 22 cases (48.9%). This difference was highly significant (p less than 0.005). More precisely, significant differences were found in favor of sonography in: organ identification (p less than 0.001), organ demarcation (p less than 0.002), determination of internal structure (p less than 0.002), volume measurement (p less than 0.01), and--most important--indication of tumour type (p less than 0.01).

Female↗

Palpation thyroiditis (multifocal granulomatour folliculitis).

Disseminated inflammatory lesions constituting a multifocal granulomatous folliculitis in the thyroid are described. These lesions were present in the majority (greater than 83%) of thyroids removed surgically because of thyroid or nonthyroid (carcinoma of the larynx) disease. They also were found at autopsy in patients who died while hospitalized but not in those who died at home. An identical lesion was produced experimentally in dogs by vigorously squeezing their thyroids. The human folliculitis is believed to result from traumatic injury or rupture of isolated thyroid follicles caused by palpation of the gland (palpation thyroiditis). Palpation thyroiditis may have little, if any, clinical importance. The remote possibility that it might be associated with iatrogenically produced metastasis of thyroid carcinoma is being investigated.

Adenoma↗

Comparison of breast consistency at palpation with breast density at mammography.

Palpable breast consistency on physical examination was compared with the breast density on mammography for 909 consecutive patients. One of two experienced nurse practitioners palpated each patient's breasts and assigned a consistency value of 1 (little palpable breast consistency) to 4 (maximal palpable breast consistency). Seven mammographers rated the breast density on mammography as either fatty, mild, moderate, or marked parenchymal density for each breast. A low statistical correlation between the two parameters was shown. Thirty-seven percent of markedly dense breasts on mammography was rated only 1 or 2 on palpation. Thus, breast consistency judged by palpation cannot be directly correlated with the density shown on mammography and cannot be used to predict optimal radiographic technique.

Adult↗

Adenoid size assessment: a comparison of palpation, nasendoscopy and mirror examination.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the digital, mirror and nasendoscopic assessment of adenoid size and posterior choanal obstruction in patients undergoing adenoidectomy. DESIGN: Prospective, blinded study. SETTING: Otorhinolaryngology department at a London teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients undergoing adenoidectomy in conjunction with tonsillectomy or myringotomy under general anaesthesia, aged 17 months to 16 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adenoid size and postnasal space obstruction as assessed by digital examination, nasendoscopy and trans-oral mirror visualization. These examination methods were each compared with each other. RESULTS: Nasendoscopy and mirror examination correlated well (Spearman's R(S) = 0.71, P < 0.0001) but Passing and Bablock regression analysis demonstrated that mirror examination consistently underestimated the degree of choanal obstruction in comparison with nasendoscopy. There was no significant correlation between nasendoscopy and palpation (R(S) = 0.26, P = 0.17) and only a moderate correlation between mirror examination and palpation (R(S) = 0.46, P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: If nasendoscopy is considered the gold standard, then palpation is a poor measure of adenoid hypertrophy and mirror examination consistently underestimates choanal occlusion.

Adenoidectomy↗