A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; furthermore:
- Inspection (viewing) of skin, mucous membranes, and sclera (white part of eye) [skin and mucous membrane bleeding; hematoma/bruising].
- Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen, etc. [hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver); splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen): thrombocytopenia (decreased number of platelets (blood clots)) as a result of hypersplenism (enlargement of the spleen)]
- Cancer screening
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.