Rongelap unexposed 841
NAME)

HOSPITAL OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER,
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY

UPTON, NEW YORK 11973

08-50-53 R

DISCHARGE SUMMARY

CIRC 63

Area Code 5I6 TAphank 4=4262

ADMITTED:

27 May 1974

DISCHARGED:

(UNIT NO)

3 June 1974

Thia 4l-year-old Marshallese woman was

admitted to this hospital for thyroid
studies due co nodularity in the gland, and evaluation for possible tHyroid

surgery.

MEDICAL HISTORY:
In March 1974, during routine: physical
.
examination, the patient was found
to have a firm nodula in the lower left pole of the thyroid gland and possibiy

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
{ncreasing tendency Co obesity and a recent developmenc of hypertension.
Her
weight increased from 145 1b in 1957 to 170 lb ae 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 2 companion nodule also in the mid right
lobe,
The nodules were non-tender and no lymphadencpthy was noted.
Her BP

wag 150-180/105-115,.

The heart and lungs appeared normal, as well as the

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

LABORATORY & X-RAY DATA:

No scans or thyroid uptake scudies
were performed because of her
pregnancy.
xX ray of che chest showed the heart co be topenormal in size, but
otherwise negative.
EKG was normal.
Cholesterol was 336 mgZ, and triglycerides

were 182 mg%
24 hr,

Creatinine clearance was slightly low.

VMA was normal.

negative,

Aldosterone was 50 mg/

The urine showed 20 mg albumin, but was otherwise

Stool examinations revealed the presence of whip worms and

trichirus trichura.

HOSPITAL COURSE:
and slept well.

to 160/110.

During her hospitalization, the
patient remained asymptomatic, and ate
‘She was completely ambulatory. Her BP varied from 130/90

From che lab findings a diagnosis of mild essential hypertension
-l-

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