Rongelap unexposed 841

HOSPITAL OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER,
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
UPTON, NEW YORK 11973
—
Area Cade S16 YAphank 4-6262

VY)

08-50-53 R

DISCHARGE SUMMARY

ADMITTED:

UNT NO)

CIRC 63

27 May 1974

DISCHARGED:

3 June 1974

This 41-year-old Marshallese woman was
admitted co this hospital for thyroid

studies due to nodularity in the gland, and evaluation for possible cHyroid
surgery.
MEDICAL HISTORY:

In March 1974, during routine physical
examination,

the patient was found

to have a firm nodule in the lower left pole of the thyroid gland and possibly

another tiny nodule in the upper right lobe.
The nodules were non-tender and
no lymphadenopathy was noted.
She appeared to be euthyroid,
The patient is one
of the unexposed people in the Rongelap compariosn population,
Since exams
began in 1957 on this group, her health has been generally good, but with an
increasing tendency to obesity and a recent development of hypertension,
Her
weight increased from 145 lb in 1957 to 170 1b at present.
The past few years
she has had frequent headaches, and the BP has become elevated to around

170-180/100-115.

She has had about annual pregnancies, resulting in 9 healthy

children, 2 miscarriages, and 1 child dying at the age of 1 year,

Except for

occasional joint pains and presence of worms in her stools, her history is

otherwise negative generally.
digcase,

She has had no symptoms referable to kidney

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
euthyroid and generally in good health,

The patient is somewhat obese and is
20-22 weeks pregnant. She appears
Exam of the thyroid reveals a 1 cm

nodule in the lower left lobe with a companion nodule also in the mid right

lobe, The nodules were non-tender and no lymphadenopthy was noted. Her BP
was 150-180/105-115, The heart and lungs appeared normal, as well as the

peripheral vascular system,
Funduscopic exam was generally negative except for
slight increase in light reflex.
The physical exam was otherwise negative
except for the presence of a cystocele and rectocele,

LABORATORY & X-RAY DATA:

No scans or thyroid uptake studies
were performed because of her
pregnancy,
X ray of the chest showed the heart to be top-normal in size, but
otherwise negative.
EKG was normal.
Cholesterol was 336 mg’, and triglycerides

were 182 mg%.

Creatinine clearance was slightly low.

Aldosterone was 50 mg/

24 hr.
VMA was normal.
The urine showed 20 mg albumin, but was otherwise
negative.
Stool examinations revealed the presence of whip worms and

trichirugs trichura.

HOSPITAL COURSE:

During her hospitalization, the
patient remained asymptomatic, and ate

and slept well.
She was completely ambulatory. Her BP varied from 130/90
to 160/110. From the lab findings a diagnosis of mild essential hypertension
-1-

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