Explanation: 👍 The correct answer is A. This patient has Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder resulting from IgG-type autoantibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor. The three classic findings associated with Graves' disease are hyperthyroidism, ophthalmopathy, and dermopathy/pretibial myxedema. 👎 B is not correct. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by antibodies attacking thyroglobulin or thyroid peroxidase (the two most common autoantibodies in these patients) or antibodies against another part of the thyroid or thyroid hormone synthesis pathway. Although some cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis may present as a transient hyperthyroidism (with symptoms including palpitations and increased metabolic rate) from an initial disruption of thyroid follicles, the majority of cases present with signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as intolerance to cold weather, weight gain, and mental and physical slowness.
👎C is not correct. Plummer's disease is characterized by a nodular goiter that has a hyperfunctioning nodule, causing hyperthyroidism. As opposed to Graves' disease, Plummer's disease is not accompanied by ophthalmopathy or dermopathy/ pretibial myxedema.
👎D is not correct. Iodine deficiency causes hypothyroidism, manifested with signs and symptoms that include intolerance to cold weather, weight gain, and mental and physical slowness.
👎E is not correct. Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, the most common form of thyroid cancer, usually presents as an asymptomatic thyroid nodule with signs of obstruction from the tumor such as hoarseness, cough, dysphagia, or dyspnea or a cervical lymph node mass (as opposed to symptoms of hyper- or hypothyroidism). Radiation is a common cause of thyroid cancer.