PATIENT NO, 20 (continued)

gamma dose of 175 rads, an undetermined dose to the skin surfaces, and some
internal absorption of fallout material. It was estimated that the thyroid

gland received a dose of somewhere between 700-1,400 rads, largely from radioHe was nauseated the day following the fallout
iodine absorbed in the fallout.

and also complained of some itching and burning of the skin. About two weeks
after exposure, he had epilation of the head, along with radiation burns of
These lesions were not severe and healed with only
the scalp, neck, and toes.
slight residual depigmentation in the following weeks. The hair regrew by 6
months. He showed mild leukupenia and platelet depression during the first
several months following exposure but with no complications. His blood elements
Since that

had returned to the normal range by the end of the first year.

time he has been generally in good health and has apparently been euthyroid
(1963 PBI 5.5 wg%). Compared with unexposed boys of the same age, however,
he has shown a slight degree of retardation in growth based on anthropometric
and bone age studies.
Physical Examination: The patient
to be somewhat smaller than normal
but a 1.5 cm diameter nodule, firm
pole of the gland. The nodule was
other nodules were palpated and no

was well nourished and developed but appeared
for his age. The thyroid was not enlarged,
in character, was noted in the right lower
not tender and moved on swallowing. No
regional adenopathy was noted. The remainder

en

of the physical examination was essentially negative.

Laboratory and X-Ray Data:
Thyroid Work-Up:
PBI 6.1 we%, iodine fractionation:
total I 6.5 we%, iodoprotein 1.3 wg%, thyronine (T4 + T3) 4.2 ugh. Thyroid autoantibodies under 1:16. Cholesterol 170 mg% with esters 144 mg%. BMR -12. Thyroid
scan (99™[c¢) showed "cold" nodule at lower lobe.
132y uptake studies showed 40%
uptake in 6 hours with 32.5% urinary excretion at that time.

Following TSH stimula

tion for three days, the uptake was only 33.7% at 5-1/2 hours, with urinary
excretion 18.5%. PBI 6.8 wg%. The blood count was within normal limits; alkaline
phosphatase was slightly low (4.4 units), total protein slightly elevated, 8.2 gm
with globulins 3.9 gm. Within normal ranges were: prothrombin time, sedimenta-

tion rate, bilirubin, cephalin flocculation, transaminase, Ca, P, thymol turbidity,
FBS, BUN, CO9, Cl, Na, K.
Normal also were EKG, slit lamp examination, urinalysis,

and stools for ova and parasites.

Chest plate showed no active disease in the

chest.

Hospital Course:

The patient remained asymptomatic while here.

On July 5 he

was taken to New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts for surgery.
Dr. Bentley P. Colcock removed about 3.1 cm of thyroid tissue which contained

multiple nodules varying in size up to 1 cm in diameter. They varied from pale
grey and firm to pulpy and semicystic and deep red. The pathologic diagnosis
was adenomatous goiter. His recovery was rapid and uneventful. He was returned
to Brookhaven on July 13 where he remained asymptomatic and was discharged on
July 18,

1965, fit to travel back to the Marshall Islands.

Diagnosis:

Adenomatous goiter.

Discharge Medication:
No immediate drug therapy was recommended. However, this
patient will receive desiccated thyroid, 180 mg daily beginning in September,
along with the remainder of the exposed Rongelap people.

101

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