Ace the 2026 RN Endocrine Exam – Empower Your Nursing Journey!

The correct answer highlights Hashimoto's Thyroiditis as the autoimmune disorder that leads to the body attacking the thyroid gland. This destruction of the thyroid tissue results in an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, which presents with common symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold.

In Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, a notable characteristic is the development of a goiter, which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The immune-mediated damage causes inflammation and swelling of the thyroid, contributing to this physical manifestation. This combination of symptoms—hypothyroidism and goiter—sets Hashimoto's apart from other thyroid conditions.

Other options focus on different disorders with distinct presentations. Myxedema coma relates to severe hypothyroidism and typically does not include joint pain as a primary feature. Thyroid storm is a medical emergency due to excessively high thyroid hormone levels, leading to symptoms like fever and rapid heartbeat, rather than memory loss. Toxic nodular goiter involves hyperthyroidism with nodular formations, which does present a goiter, but does not result from an autoimmune attack on the thyroid gland. Thus, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis specifically matches the question's criteria of autoimmune attack leading to both typical hypothyroidism signs and