AO34Oe
July 12, 1965
MEMORANDUM FOR:
CHAIRMAN SEABORG
COMMISSIONER PALFREY
COMMISSIONER RAMEY
COMMISSIONER TAPE
THROUGH GENERAL MANAGERson v, vinciguarra WR
SUBJECT:
JUL 15 1965
THYROID DISEASE IR RONGELAP ISLANDERS
During the week of July 5, 1965, the three Rongelapese who vere
brought to this country for study at Brookhaven National
Laboratory were operated on at the Lahey Clinic, Boston. You
will recall that thyroid tumors vere noted at the 166° medical
examination of those exposed to fallout in March 1954 from the
Bravo Test.
The two teen-age boys were found to have each a solitary benign
tumor of the thyroid. These nodules were resoved surzically.
The middle-aged woman was found to have a carcinoma of the
thyroid glend with some metastases to local structures. A subtotel thyroidectomy was carried out. In her case, the prognosis
is fair. She will be given © millicuries of Iodine-131
therapeutically to destroy persisting thyroid tissugecy Copy AV AJLABLE
It is interesting thet the dose of radio{odine to the thyroid
gland in the case of the woman is estimated at abdout 160 rads,
or approximately one-tenth that to the glands of the yourks.
Presently under consideration is the administration of dessicated
thyroid tablets prophylactically to all the Rongelapese who were
at Rongelap or Alinginae at the tire of fallout.
Charles L, Bunha, 4.D.
Director, Division of
Biology and Medicine
US DOE @&Citidcde@teriat (2)
RG
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BA BIRECTOR
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