Rongelap 8

HOSPITAL OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER,
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
UPTON, NEW YORK 11973

NAMB

08-42-34 R

Area Code 516 YAphank 4-—6262

(UNIT NO]

DISCHARGE SUMMARY

ADMITTED:

7 November 1972

.

DISCHARGED:

13 November 1972

This 19-year-old Marshallese girl was

admitted to this Hospital for evaluation

of thyroid nodularity and physical condition prior to thyroid surgery.
MEDICAL HISTORY:
thyroid gland.

Examination in September revealed
nedularity in the right upper lobe of the
One nodule was fairly firm and about 1 cm. in diameter and the

other was smaller and soft in consistency.

No lymph nodes were palpated, and the

waa nmoced to be anemic, cause unknown.

cae OA di be oe noe eet reat bs

patient appeared to be euthyroid. Previous exams over the past 18 years have not
revealed any thyroid abnormalities and she has always appeared euthyroid wich
thyroxin levels in the normal range, During the September 1972 examination she
.

.

This slender girl is well-developed
and well-nourished, The thyroid
examination revealed che upper part of the right lobe to be irregular with a
soft, 1.5-cm. nodule in the upper part. The left lobe was barely palpable. No
cervical nodes were palpated and she appeared to be euthyroid, The remainder .
of the Physical Examination was essentially negative except for a small
.
papilloma in the perineum. as
- OL

the upper right lobe.

after TSM stimulation.
to TSH was fair.

Thyroid scans using 99m, showed
nodularity with reduced function in
T level was normal (9.3 pg) and showed good increase

The 123I uprake was slightly elevated and the response

The Laboratory and X-ray data were otherwise normal except for

the presence of Trichuris Trichuria in the stools.

t

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LABORATORY &X-RAY DATA:

1

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PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:

1

Immediate effects of fallout were few:
development of mild superficial beta
burns of the skin and slight epilation which healed within a few weeks, with normal
regrowth of hair; development of mild platelet depression and leukopenia which
returned cto normal lavels by one year,
Since 1954 she has been in good health
with no significant illnesses or injuries and her growth and development have
been normal, Another sister, who was also exposed to fallout, developed benign
thyroid adenomatous nodules which were removed surgically several years ago.

ha
L
7a a
tebe ome fee
hese
bdebabten
at
cae wet Hi ned aun eats ads estaba bs erete bie aitadallcadt adtstn

She was 17 months of age at the time
of exposure to fallout and received
an estimated whole-body dose of 69 rads of gamma radiation and a thyroid dose of
about 500 rads, largely from absorption of radioiodines in the food and water
consumed. This is the first case of thyroid nodularity in children of this
lower Rongelap exposure group (Ailingnae group).

4

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NL 7204

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