**Core Concept**
Endemic cretinism is a congenital disorder caused by severe iodine deficiency during fetal development, leading to impaired thyroid function and subsequent growth and developmental abnormalities.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Cretinism is characterized by stunted growth, intellectual disability, and physical deformities such as short stature, webbed neck, and protruding tongue. The condition arises due to the thyroid gland's inability to produce thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), essential for normal growth and development. Iodine is crucial for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, and its deficiency disrupts thyroid function, leading to cretinism.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is not provided, so we cannot evaluate its accuracy.
**Option B:** While goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland) is a sign of iodine deficiency, it is not a manifestation of endemic cretinism itself.
**Option C:** Congenital hypothyroidism is a precursor to cretinism, but it is not a manifestation of the condition.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Cretinism is a preventable condition through iodine supplementation and fortification of food products, making it a significant public health concern in regions with iodine deficiency.

**Correct Answer: D. Stunted growth, intellectual disability, and physical deformities such as short stature, webbed neck, and protruding tongue.**