Article
Further Developments of Thyroid Nodules in Marshallese
Population Accidentally Exposed to Radioactive Fallout in 1954
In May 1966, five Rongelap people who
had recently developed thyroid nodules
were brought to the Medical Research
Center of Brookhaven National Laboratory for examinations and evaluation for surgery. The five are part of a
population of 82 Rongelap people (69
now living) exposed to radioactive fallout in 1954. There have been 18 cases of
thyroid abnormalities discovered within
the past three years during the annual
BNL-sponsored medical surveys. Of
these cases, 15 were children who were
exposed at less than 10 years of age.
No thvroid abnormalities have been dis-
covered in 100 children of the same age
range who had received either no exposure or very low exposure, though
several small nodules
have been de-
tected in older unexposed Marshallese
in the comparison population. It is believed that the abnormalities are due
to the radiation exposure of the thyroid
gland from absorption of radioiodines
in food and water from gamma radiation at the time of the fallout. The five
cases recently brought here were all
females, four children and one adult.
They were given extensive examinations and then taken to the New England
Deaconess Hospital in Boston for surgerv. The nodules proved to be nonmalignant, and after their uneventful
recovery the patients were returned to
the Marshall Islands.
A total of 11 cases of thyroid nodules
have now been operated upon; only one
case proved to be malignant. In addition, two cases of hypothyroidism (reduced function of the thyroid) developed in two boys who were retarded
in growth at the time of the earlier
BULLETIN
examination. This finding suggests that
the slight retardation of growth noted
in younger children may be related to
the thyroid abnormalities. Institution of
thyroid hormone treatment in the exposed people was started recently, in the
hope that such theraphy would reduce
the incidence of thyroid abnormalities
and stimulate growth in the children.
Preliminary indications are that there
is a growth spurt in the two most retarded boys, and in one adult a nodule
could no longer be detected following
treatment. There are still four children
who have nodular thyroids, and they
will be reevaluated for possible surgery
following further treatment with thyroid
hormone. The continuing examinations
in this Marshallese population are affording valuable information on the
effect of radiation on human beings.
R. A. Conrad, M.D.
Medical Department
Brookhaven National
Laboratory
Mental Health
Continued from Page 23
involve the physician’s ability as a sci-
entist,
but his
failure
to
develop
a
healthy interpersonal relationship with
his
patients
and their
families
may
weigh heavily against the doctor’s public image and his skill as a healer.
Hyman Barahal, M.D., Chairman
Mental Health, Alcoholism &
Drug Addiction Committee
Page 23