BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
HOSPITAL of the MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER
UPTON, NEW YORK
DISCHARGE SUMMARY
ADMITTED:

[ NAME

Rengelap 54

PAVILION

AUGUST 4, 1968

UNIT NO.

DISCHARGED:

8-18-90 R

1

OPD

AUGUST 30, 1968

This 15-year-old Marshallese boy

was admitted to this Hospital for
evaluation of a nodular thyroid gland resulting from exposure to radioactive fallout
in 1954,

Do Not Write In Binding Margin

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS:

In 1965 the patient's thyroid revealed
a slight diffuse enlargement. In
1966 more definite enlargement with small nodules in the left lobe and isthmus
' were detected, He was placed on L-thyroxine treatment, but he has been very
inconsistent in taking the drug. The 1967 and 1968 examinations revealed that the
nodules had enlarged, the one in the left lobe being about 2 cm. in diameter. The
nodules were firm but not hard and not tender. Though some exposed Rongelap
children have shown some degree of hypothyroidism and growth retardation this boy
has appeared euthyroid with normal growth and development. His serum thyroxin level
(T-4) over the pase three years has been 4.3, 4.8 and 4.6 u:g% and his serum
cholesterol 98 mgi.
The patient was 1 year of age at
the time of exposure. He received an
estimated 175 rads of whole body gamma irradiation, heavy irradiation of the
skin and internal absorption of radioisotopea. The thyroid gland receivéed
about 700-1400 rad from radioiodines absorbed plus 175 rad of gamma radiation.
He developed marked "Beta burns" of the skin. The lesions cleared however
without complications within several weeks. He had slight transient epilatim of
the scalp and cyanotic changes in the fingernails also. During the first six
weeks he developed a leukopenia and a platelet depression. However he never shaed
any clinical evidence of the radiation syndrome and hia blood counts approached
normal by one year, Yearly anthropometric measurements and skeletal age studies
have revealed normal growth and development and he has always appeared to be

euthroid (substantiated by normal PBI's and serum cholesterol levels).

Since

examined in March 1968 che patient has been asymptomatic and in good health.
has taken his thyroid medication intermittently.

He

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:

This 15-year-old Marshallese boy
appeared to be well-nourished and of
normal size for his age, Examination of the thyroid gland revealed that the left
lobe was enlarged with multiple soft nodules palpable. A few small nodules were
believed to be present also in the right lobe. A few small anterior cervical
lymph nodes were palpable. The patient appeared to be euthyroid. There were no
other no notable findings on physical examinations other than a mild tenia
versicola infection of the face, arms and trunk.

LABORATORY & X-RAY DATA:

Thyroid workup:

serum thyroxin

4.9 ueg%, cholesterol 145 mgZ,
(75Zesters); BMR - 13, -10; serum antithyroglobulin antibodies negative. Thyroid
scan using I.V. 9%™tc showed large defects along the lateral aspects of the left lobe
I uptake was normal and a good response was obtained to TSH stimulation
(10 units, I.M. daily for 3 days); thyroxin level increased from 4.9 to 6.3 gt.

@NL 720A

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