What autoimmune condition involves the destruction of thyroid cells?

The correct answer, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is an autoimmune condition characterized by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland, leading to the destruction of thyroid cells. This results in an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, as the thyroid is unable to produce sufficient hormones due to the damage inflicted by the autoimmune response. The condition often presents with an enlarged thyroid or goiter and can lead to a variety of symptoms associated with decreased thyroid hormone levels, such as fatigue, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold.

In contrast, Graves' disease is also an autoimmune condition but involves the overproduction of thyroid hormones, leading to hyperthyroidism, rather than the destruction of thyroid cells. Cretinism is not an autoimmune disorder but rather a condition resulting from severe hypothyroidism, typically due to a lack of iodine during pregnancy or infancy, which leads to developmental delays. Thyroid storm is an acute condition characterized by an extreme overactivity of the thyroid, usually occurring in someone with untreated hyperthyroidism, and is not related to the destruction of thyroid cells.