FPGEE for National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Practice Exam 2025 - Free NABP Practice Questions and Study Guide

The key feature of sporadic goiter is the overgrowth of the gland or tumor. Sporadic goiter occurs when the thyroid gland enlarges due to various factors, which can include a lack of iodine in the diet, autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or nodular growths within the thyroid itself. This enlargement can manifest as either diffuse enlargement of the thyroid or the formation of nodules or tumors, which may not be present in familial forms of goiter, where genetic factors are more influential.

The conditions leading to sporadic goiter often affect the function of the gland, leading to hypothyroidism or various forms of hyperthyroidism, but the physical manifestation of the condition is primarily the enlargement of the thyroid tissue itself. Therefore, identifying the goiter as an overgrowth is central to understanding the pathology behind its development.

Low enzyme activity in the thyroid, deficiency of triglycerides in the body, and underproduction of glucocorticoids are unrelated to the primary characteristic of sporadic goiter and do not directly contribute to its enlargement. Each of these options refers to different pathophysiological processes which do not align with the essential feature of sporadic goiter.