—
Rongelap 40
(NAMB
HOSPITAL OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER,
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
UPTON, NEW YORK 11973
08-45-42R
Area Code $16 YAphank 4-6252
{UNIT NO}
DISCHARGE SUMMARY
ADMITTED: June 2, 1973
DISCHARGED:
June 10, 1973
Vet ee
This 48-year old Marshallese man
who had been exposed to radioactive
fallout in 1954 was admitted for evaluation of thyroid nodularity and physical status
for possible thyroid surgery.
A small nodule in the right lobe of the
thyroid was first detected in 1965. He,
elong with other people of Rongelap who had been exposed to radiation had been placed on
L-thyroxin treataent and the nodule disappeared on this treatment.
.
HISTORY:
However, during che
recent examinations in March, he was again discowered to have a hardened area in the
right lobe with indistinct boundaries. No lymphadenopathy was noted. He has alwaya
appeared euthyroid and his thyroxin levels have generally been in che normal range, with
only one reading alightly slow.
He was exposed to 175 rad of ganna
1 SS le oe.
a aeRaene oe SEASeee ee
HOSPITAL
COURSE: : EET ro
“am”
i
on
.
.
ee
to
.
During the 8 days. of his hospital stay,
“4
des mm.
ha”
.
1
oad hel” ae ne, bes tent bs *
vere positive for whipworm.— ogee
tetas lm,
oe ge
AND
SARORATORT
X-RAT
DATA: cl
Thyroid scans showed no distinct nodulariey
“rao
but slightly increased size of the right —
lobe.~ Radicactive ‘todine uptake was normal and response to TSH stimulation was fair.
T-4 levels are not reported yet. Serum was nonreactive for antithyroid globulin antibodies.Chest X-Ray was normal. Hemogram was normal... Syphilis serology was reactive
(titer of4) but this- low lewel vas not considered significant in view of his history
of having had the yawa..: Tests of kidney function and liver function were normal. Elec- —
trolytee- normal, EKG normal, proteins normal, electrolytes and lipids normal. Stools
wot Te
amet
This well developed, muscular, alert man
appeared quite healthy and euthyroid. The
thyroid findings noted were the same as vere reported above for the March examination.
The onlyocher findings were bilateral Prdeg Tne y missing teeth and Gingivitis.
wees
|
- the patient was a symptomatic until
the Sth day when following TSHt injection (given the previous day) he developed an
acute thyroiditis with low grade fever, nausea, anorexia and slight neutrophilia. Scan
showed some enlargement of the gland.. The thyroiditis reduced rapidly and at the
:
m
‘
:
4
.
1
:
,
’
Dake es ante go tl on de ere bene =ee
EXAMINATION:
Ne
radiation from accidential fallout cf 1954
and his thyroid gland probably received about 330 rads partly from radioactive iodines
absorbed. He had early acute effects with hemological depression and mild "beta” burns
ofthe skin which he recovered from within a year. Examinations over the past 19 years
have revealed only a few findings: The history of yaws in childhood, measles, occasionally. bronchitis, one possible attack of pneumonia, a fistula~in-ano which was surgically
corrected. He has remained in very good health and is a hard worker and leader of his
people. He was magistrate of the village at the time of the fallout. His wife was
operated for cancer of the thyroid, three sons for benign thyroid lesions, and 1 son
died at 19 years of age with acute leukemia (possible from radiation exposure).
- 122 -
soot
°