What condition is characterized by high levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and can lead to neck swelling?

The condition characterized by high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that can lead to neck swelling is indeed goiter. A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can occur due to various disorders, including hypothyroidism. When thyroid hormone levels are low, the pituitary gland produces more TSH in an attempt to stimulate the thyroid to produce more hormones. This increased stimulation can lead to the growth of the gland, resulting in the visible enlargement known as a goiter.

While hypothyroidism is related to the elevated levels of TSH, it doesn't describe the neck swelling itself; it is the structural enlargement (the goiter) that results from the hypothyroidism. Graves' disease, on the other hand, typically involves an overactive thyroid and can cause neck swelling, but in that case, TSH levels would be low due to negative feedback from the excess thyroid hormone. Cretinism refers to a severe form of hypothyroidism typically present from birth and is not primarily characterized by a goiter.

Thus, the connection between high TSH levels and neck swelling makes goiter the most appropriate answer in this context.