A nurse is assisting with the care of a client in a provider's clinic. Exhibits For each finding of the client, click to specify if the finding is consistent with Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism. Each finding may support more than one disease process.

Rationale:  • Report of menstrual cycle: The client’s last menstrual period was 3 months ago, indicating amenorrhea. This is commonly seen in hyperthyroidism due to hormonal imbalances that interfere with normal menstrual regulation.  • Weight change: She reports a 3-month history of unintentional weight loss with a good appetite, which reflects the increased metabolic rate typically caused by elevated thyroid hormone levels in hyperthyroidism.  • Skin condition: Her skin is described as warm and moist, which is consistent with hyperthyroidism. Excess thyroid hormone increases heat production and stimulates the sweat glands.  • Neck exam: The presence of a visible goiter suggests thyroid gland enlargement, often due to overstimulation by thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins in autoimmune hyperthyroidism like Graves' disease. A goiter can occur in Hypothyroidism (e.g., Hashimoto's thyroiditis) as the gland tries to compensate. Therefore, this finding is consistent with both.  • Laboratory results: Elevated T3 (230 ng/dL), free T4 (3.4 ng/dL), and TSI (150%) confirm hyperthyroidism. These values exceed the normal range and strongly indicate an overactive thyroid gland.  • Eye appearance: Exophthalmos (protruding eyes) is observed, a hallmark of Graves’ disease. This autoimmune feature is linked exclusively to hyperthyroidism and is caused by inflammation and tissue buildup behind the eyes.