Final answer:
Pathological diseases of the thyroid gland include goiter, exophthalmic goiter (Graves' disease), hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. These conditions result from imbalances in thyroid hormone production, either too much or too little, and they manifest in a range of symptoms from neck swelling to altered metabolic rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pathological Diseases of the Thyroid Gland
Goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland which can result from various factors. Deficiency of iodine, tumors of the thyroid, excessive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS) are all potential causes of goiter. The thyroid gland becomes hypertrophied, leading to a visible swelling in the neck.
Exophthalmic goiter, also known as Graves' disease, is characterized by an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. Symptoms may include heat intolerance, rapid heartbeat, weight loss, and the distinctive bulging of the eyes known as exophthalmia or Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Hyperthyroidism, or thyrotoxicosis, is caused by the excessive production of thyroid hormones, often due to a tumor of the gland or Graves' disease. Contrariwise, Hypothyroidism results from underproduction of thyroid hormones. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder, is the most frequent cause of hypothyroidism and can lead to symptoms such as goiter, cold intolerance, muscle weakness, depression, and memory loss.