28

cases with 7th nerve weakness involving thelids;
two cases of anisocoria (unequal pupils); and an
increasedincidenceof strabismus.
Residual “Beta Burns”

Persisting residual effects of “beta burns’’ were
found to be present in 19 people, 6 children and
13 adults. These are outlined in Table 17. The
skin changesconsisted of hyperkeratosis, and
varying degrees of atrophy, scarring, and pigment
aberrations(see Figures 19 and 20). These changes
were slight in most of the people. The development of lentigo-like and papular pigmented
nevus-like lesions in areas of previous “beta burns”
wasfirst observed several years ago, and these
lesions appearto have been increasing slightly

since that time (see Figure 21). Histological study
of a biopsy of one of these lesions showed it to be
a typical benign pigmented nevus.
The residual changesin the skin of the Marshallese who had sustained acute “beta burns”
have shownneitherfissure tissue breakdownin the
affected areas as seen in chronic radiation dermatitis nor evidence of malignant change. Only one
case showeda few spots of alopecia of the occipital
area ofthe scalp as a residuum ofepilation. Figure
22 showshistological residual changesin a lesion
at 10 years after exposure. *
LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS
Hematological

neck of 56-year-old woman (No. 34) at 10 years after exposure (100 x). Note atrophy of epidermis with narrow-

Summarytables of hematological! data are presented in the tables and graphsin the text, and
raw data on the individuals are presented in the
appendices. The more heavily exposed Rongelap

present.

*Dr. David A. Wood of the University of California Medical
Center, San Francisco, did the histological interpretations.

Figure 22. Section ofskin from “beta burn” area on back of
ing of stratum granulosum and finger-like projections of
rete pegs. Slight atrophy of the sweat gland ductsis also

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