Rongelap 40
NAMB

HOSPITAL OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER,
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LASORATORY
UPTON, NEW YORK 11973

O8-45-42R

Area Gode 516 YAphank 4=6762

(UNIT NO.)

OISCHARGE SUMMARY

ADMITTED: June 2, 1973

DISCHARGED: June 10, 1973
Thia 48-year old Marshallese man

who had been exposed to radicactive

fallout in 1954 was admitted for evaluation of thyroid nedularity and physical status
for possible thyroid surgery.
HISTORY:

A small nedule in the right lobe of the

thyroid was first detected in 1965.

He,

along with other people of Rongelap who had been exposed to radiation had been placed on
L-thyroxin treatment and the nodule disappeared on thig treatment. However,during che
recent examinations in March, he was again discovered to have a hardened area in the
tight lobe with indistinct boundaries. No lymphadenopathy was noted.
He has always
appeared euthyroid and his thyroxin levels have generally been in the normal range, with
only one reading slightly slow.
He was exposed to 175 rad of gamma
radiation from accidential fallout of 1954

and his thyroid gland probably received about 330 rads partly from radioactive iodines
absorbed. He had early acute effects with hemological depression and mild "beca” burns

of the skin which he recovered from within a year. #xaminations over the past 19 years
have revealed only a few findings: The hiatory of yaws in childhood, measles, occasion~
ally bronchitis, one possible attack of pneumonia, a fistula-in-ano which was surgicaily

corrected.

He has remained in very good health and is a hard worker and leader of his

people. He waa magistrate of the village at the time of the fallout.
His wife was
operated for camcer of the thyroid, three sons for benign thyroid lesions, and 1 son

died at 19 years of age with acute leukemia (possible from radiation exposure).

EXAMINATION:

This well developed, muscular, alert man
appeared quite healthy and euthyroid. The
thyroid findings noted were the same as were reported above for the March examination.
The only other findings were bilateral pr¢ey;i.c , missing teeth and gingivitis.

ANDDAT :

Thyroid scans showed no distince nodularity

buc slightly increased size of the right
lobe. Radioactive icdine uptake was normal and response to TSH stimulation was fair.
T-4 levels are not reported yee.
Serum was nonreactive for antithyroid globulin anti-

bodies.

Chest X-Ray was normal.

Hemogram was normal.

Syphilis serology was reactive

(titer of 4) bur this low level was not considered significant in view of his history

of having had the yaws.

Tests of kidney function and liver function were normal.

trolytes normal, EKG normal, proteins normal, electrolytes and lipids normal.

were positive for whipworn,
HOSPITALCOURSE:

Elec-

Stools

During the 8 days of his hospital stay,

the patient was a symptomacic until
the 5th day when following ISH injection (given the previous day) he developed an
acute thyroiditis with low grade fever, nausea, anorexia and slight neutrophilia.
Scan
showed some enlargement of the gland... The thyroiditis reduced rapidly and at the

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