celved by each thyreid and other data.
Preliminary grachs nave just]been prepared
to relate the rad dose received by each animal to the level cf TSH af the time of
placed on one
sacrifice. The datz2 on animals that had developed necplasms nave be@n
It would
graph, those that hac no neoplasms are cn another (Illustration attaghed).
ghould be emappear that those animals with neoplasms had higher TSH levels. It
phasized that this is only a very preliminary consideratisn. Duplicdéte assays on
these serum samples will be run to confirm these TSH leveis. The refationship of the
types of tumors to the TSH levels, an attempt to weed out the parafolhli
(medullary) tumors, that presumably have no relationship <> radiatiok&, and an attempt
to relate those lesions that appear malignant to TSH are some of thefthings that must
be considered. (Other rat experiments dealing with the effects of T§ replacement are
in progress, see below.)
A new group of weanling rats has
been given 1311 a= a dose lev 1 that has yieldec
about 60% thyroid neoplasms in the past.
controls.
The initial greup numbere
The details of preparation and observations on these
450, including
plan described in the attached manuscripts. However, this group was
radiated with even =pre experimental data being acquired Tran in the
are individually anc permanently identified as in the past 2 series
ONE two years each. Rather than measure the accumlaticn and disa
Ion only 30 or 3-0 representative animals and from this calculat
life (which in the rast served as an estimate for all), the actual
quired individually on all animals. Although thyroid weizgnts must
on the basis of Der 40 animals, these weights are quite wiform.
effective half lives known, the actual rad dose for eacn animal is
The animals of the present series are having several milliliters of
direct heart punct.re for TSH assays several times during the 2 y
animals. are regrouped on the basis of the rad dose received by the
on the dose administered to the animal. Ome half of the radiated
Ty to test its inhibitory effect on neoplasm development. The eff
therapy is being checked by the TSH assay. Thus far the survival o
excellent.
The results of the first TSH assays on these animals hae
prompted us to
increase the amount of qT, supplement to be sure TSH was adequately
pressed. The
experiment seems to hold ‘promise but the length of time and labor involved constitutes
considerable risk with respect to survival of the animais and the pqssibility of over~sites in the experimental design. The mortality from cardiac punctire has become
negligible.
Neoplasms o= the Thyroid Following X-Irradiation in Clinical] Subjects
With the recevt increase in publicity concerning the develo
t of carcinoma
of the thyroid in adults who had received x-irradiation to the tonsf{ls and thymus
when they were infants and children, and skin of head anc neck for
bce as adoles-
cents, there has teen a large number’ of persons come to Le examined] from a wide area.
if such persons have a proven history of exposure and have detectabge lesions we have
had the opportunity to explore the thyroid. This has provided an
ticipate the findings and make plans for special study o= any lesi
fact that our laboratory, supported in a major way by this contra
in everyday operation and personnel particularly interested and e
activities makes iz possible to take advantage of these cpportuniti
of individuals coming to our attention in the past year mas increa
Qur pathologists wider the direction of Dr. John D. Reid nave been