"Minimal hypofunction of the gland may have been missed in the past, since the apparently normal PBI (Pretein-Bound Iodine) levels may have been spuriously high, the true thyroxine level being masked by the elevated jodoprotein component charactersitic of the Marshallese." (p. 42) [emphasis added] While it cannot be stated with any certainty that no new thyroid nodules - will be found (two new possible cases were found during the 1972 survey) it is most likely that if they are found, they will be in persons who were less than ten years of age when exposed, although so far there have been three cases (including one on Utirik) in persons older than 20 years and one case in persons older than 10 years (12 years old, exposed on Ailinginae). This has been borne out in the case of the Lucky Dragon fishermen who have not developed such nodules. This may be due to their generally older age (18-39) and possibly due to the fact that much of their drinking water, unlike that of the Marshallese, may have come from water tanks not affected by fallout. At present, as for the most part in the past, surgery is carried out in the United States by experts in the field, such as Dr. Brown Dobyns at the Cleveland Metropolitan Memocial Hospital, Clinic. The Committee, of one case, no. however, and Dr. in reviewing the reports, 21, who was operated on at during August of 1964. Bentley Colcock of the U.S. the Lahey takes special note Naval Hospital in Guam In Appendix 6, Hospital Summaries of Thyroid Surgical Cases, eleven and twelve year report, page 96, the summary indicates that "One parathyroid gland was identified after its pedicle was divided . was implanted in the belly of the right sternomastoid gland. . . and this No other para- thyroids were seen, and none were subsequently found in the specimen by the pathologist.'' Later reactions of the patient indicated that the parathyroid 135 OM. 500382