Rongelap 83
HOSPITAL OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER.

(NAME)

BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
UPTON, NEW YORK 11973

08-50-54

R

Area Code 516 YAphank 4-6262

(UNIT NO)

OISCHARGE SUMMARY

CIRC 63

ADMITTED: 27 May 1974

DISCHARGED:

3 June 1974

This 20-year-old Marshallese boy was

admitted for thyroid studies and

consideration for possible surgery in Cleveland.

MEDICAL HISTORY:

In September 1973, a small nodule was

noted in the left lobe of the thyroid.
During the recent March 1974 survey, an additional slight enlargement of the
right lobe was palpated.
He has always appeared euthyroid and the T4 levels
have been within normal limits.
This boy was one of 4 Rongelap children
exposed in utero.
He was exposed near che end of the second trimester to 175
rads whole body gamm radiation from accidental fallout, and the thyroid also
received an indeterminate dose from radioiodines which had been absorbed by
the mother,
When first seen, 3 months after birth, the only possible indication
of radiation exposure was a transitory depression of his blood platelets.
He
has been examined regularly by our medical team and no serious findings have
been noted,
He has had the usual childhood infections, and on one occasion
he had a brief hospitalization for acute URI.
His growth and development have
been normal.
PHYSICAL EXAM ON ADMISSION:
This Marshallese boy is well-developed
and well-nourished,
He appears
euthyroid.
Physical exam is generally negative except for the thyroid findings.
A small, 2 mm, freely moveable nodule was noted in the left lobe and a bumpy
irregularity in the upper right lobe,
No tenderness of the gland or lymphadenopathy was noted,
LABORATORY & X-RAY DATA:

Thyroid scans showed a discrete area
of decreased radioactivity in the
middle portion of the left lobe,
IT uptake was 24.6%, T4 level was 6.7 «1g%
in March.
The hemogram and blood chemistry data were within normal limits,
HOSPITAL COURSE:
pletely asymptomatic.

123

The hospital course was uneventful,
He ate and slept well and was comThe patient was given 20 pci 13ly just before discharge

to Cleveland for autoradiographic analysis of excised lesions.

At the Cleveland Metropolitan General
Hospital on 4 June 1974, thyroid
surgery was performed by B, M. Dobyns, M.D,
There was a 3-4 mm mass in the

left lobe near the isthmus, a 1 cm soft mass in the superior pole and the

right Lobe contained a 1 cm soft mass.
These were removed and the histological
His
diagnoses were benign adenomas, one of which was. trabecular in pattern,
recovery from surgery was uneventful with no complications,
By 9 June the

wound was healing nicely and the petient was discharged for travel back to the
Marshall Islands. A suomary of his hospitalization including surgical and

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ONL 720A

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