Rongelap unexposed 841
HOSPITAL OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER,
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY
UPTON, NEW YORK 11973
Area Cade 516 YAphank 4-6262
—
08-50-53 R
NT NO)
CIRC 63
DISCHARGE SUMMARY
ADMITTED:
(NAME
27 May 1974
.
DISCHARGED:
3 June 1974
This 4l-year-old Marshallese woman was
admitted to this hospital fer thyroid
studies due to nodularity in the gland, and evaluation for possible tHyroid
gurgery.
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 compariocsn 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.
disease,
She has had no symptoms referable to kidney
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
The patient is somewhat obese and is
20-22 weeks pregnant,
She appears
euthyroid and generally in good health, 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.
was 150-180/105-115.
Her BP
The heart and Lungs appeared normal, as well aa 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
trichirus 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
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