Rongelap 8
HOSPITAL OF THE
BROOKHAVEN
UPTON,
Area Code

MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER,
NATIONAL LASORATORY
NEW YORK 11973
516 YAghank 4—5262

(NAME)
08-42-34 R
(UNIT NO.)

OISCHARGE SUMMARY

ADMITTED:

7 November 1972°

DISCHARGED:

13 November 1972

This 19-year-old Marshallese girl was

admitted to this Hospital for evaluation
ef thyroid nodularity and physical condition prior to thyroid surgery.

MEDICAL HISTORY:

Examination in September revealed
nodularity in the right upper Lobe of the
thyroid gland. One nodule was fairly firm and abouc 1 cm. in diameter and the
other was smaller and soft in consistency. No lymph nodes were palpated, and the

patient appeared to be euthyroid.
Previous exams over the past 18 years have not
revealed any thyroid abnormalities and she has always appeared euthyroid with
thyroxin levels in the normal range.
During the September 1972 examination she
was noted to be anemic, cause unknown.
She was 17 monthsof age at the time
of exposure to fallour and received
an estimated whole-body dose of 69 rads of gamma radiation and a thyroid dose of
about 500 rads, largely from absorption of radiciodines in the food and water
consumed,
This ig che first case of thyroid nodularity in children of this
lower Rongelap exposure group (Ailingnae group),
Immediate effects of fallout were few:
development of mild superficial beta

burns of the skin and slight epilation which healed within a few weeks, with normal
regrowth of hair; development of mild placelet depression and leukopenia which

returned to normal levels by one year,

Since 1954 she has been in good health

with no significant illnesses or injuries and her growth and development have
been normal. Another sister, who was also exposed to fallout, developed benign
thyroid adenomatous nodules which were removed surgically several years ago.
PHYSICAL EXAMENATION:

This slender girl is well-developed
and well-nourished,
The thyroid
examination revealed the upper part of the right Lobe to be irregular with a
soft, l.5S-cm. nodule in che upper part.
The left lobe was barely palpable.
No
cervical nodes were palpated and she appeared to be euthyroid,
The remainder
of the Physical Examination was essentially negative except for a small
papilloma in che perineum,
LABORATORY & X-RAY DATA:

Thyroid scans using 99, showed
nodularity with reduced function in

the upper right lobe. 14 level was normal (93.3 ug%) and showed good increase
after TSH stimulation. The 1231 uptake was slightly elevated and the response

to TSH was fair,
The Laboratory and X-ray data were otherwise normal except for
the presence of Trichuris Trichuria in the stools.

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wa 7204

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96Go21b

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