29 The depressed thyroidal iodine uptake rate and renal excretion rate are puzzling, and no explanation for them is available at this time. Developmentof Thyroid Abnormalities During the past 3 years, beginning at 9 years after exposure, a total of 18 cases of abnormalities of the thyroid gland have been detected. Nodules of the thyroid gland were found in 16 cases, and 2 cases have hypothyroidism with no nodules. All occurred in the more heavily exposed Rongelap people except for one womanin the less exposed (Ailingnae) group. A thyroid nodule was first noted in 1963 in a 12-year-old girl in the exposed group, and in1964 two additional cases with nodules were found in exposed girls 13 and 14 years of age.’°** In March 1965 three additional cases in exposed people were noted in boys Table 17 Thyroid Abnormalities in Exposed Rongelap People, 1966 Subject No. and sex 3° M Present age, vr 13 Age at exposure, yr l Year Age, yr 1965 12 Findings Hypothyroid, PBI <2 wg% March 1965; retardation of growth precededthese findings by a numberof years. 3/66 growth spurt and improved appearance on thyroxine. 5 13 l 1965 12 17 15 3 1963 12 Adenomatousgoiter; total thyroidectomy, 1964. No recurrence. 21 15 3 1964 13 Adenomatous goiter; total thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, F 16 4 1964 14 Adenomatousgoiter, partial thyroidectomy, 1964. No recurrence. 2 M 13 I 1965 12 Adenomatousgoiter, partial thyroidectomy, 1965. No recurrence. 20 M 19 7 1965 18 Adenomatousgoiter, partial thyroidectomy, 1965. No recurrence. 64 F 42 30 1965 41 Mixed papillary andfollicular carcinoma,total thyroidectomy-— surgical and therapeutic radioiodine, 1965. No recurrence. 69 M Hypothyroid, PBI <2 pg% March 1965; retardation of growth preceded these findings by a numberof years. 3/66 growth spurt and improved appearance on thyroxine. 1964. No recurrence. 18 6 1965 17 Three-mm nodule left lobe. 9/66 nodule not palpable. 42 F 15 3 1965 14 Two-mm nodule right lower lobe. 3/66 nodular enlargement (~1'% X normal) entire gland; firm 5-mm nodulerightlobe. 61 F 20 8 1965 19 Six to 8-mm smooth noduleleft lower pole. 3/66 1-cm noduleleft 40 M 41 29 1965 40 Two-mm nodule right lower pole. 3/66 no nodules detected. 59* F 46 34 1965 45 Five-mm nodule midline. 3/66 same. 7/66 subtotal thyroidec- 34 M 13 l 1966 13 Nodular enlargement (~1% x normal) left lobe and isthmus with 2-mm firm nodule. 19 M 17 5 1966 17 36 M 19 7 1966 19 Slight nodular enlargement, entire gland. 1-cm nodule, not clearly 33 =F 13 1 1966 13 9/65 questionable irregular gland. 3/66 definite 5-mm nodule 1 1966 13 9/65 questionable small nodule. 3/66 5-mm nodule right lobe. 7/66 right subtotal thyroidectomy: adenomatousgoiter. 72 . ——~- — lobe. 7/66 subtotal thyroidectomy: adenomatousgoiter. tomy: adenomatousgoiter. Multinodularsoft enlargement entire gland (~1'4 x normal). 1- cm nodule right lowerpole. demarcated, at right lower pole. Manytiny nodules over surface of gland. Se a ee et 7/66 subtotal thyroidectomy: adenomatous goiter. left lobe. 7/66 subtotal thyroidectomy: adenomatous goiter, Hurthle cell adenoma. 635 =F 13 *Exposed to only 69 rads whole-body radiation and presumably proportionately less thyroid dose. 9008313