were in children exposed at less than 10 years of age, and two cases of thyroid nodules were noted in adults in the more heavily exposed group. One case with a nodule was noted in an adult woman in the smaller Rongelap group (14 of 18 living) that had received less than half the exposure of the other group. surgery. Five children and one adult (the first six cases) have had The nodules in the children were removed and proved to be benign adenomatous nodules closely resembling goiter of iodine deficiency. The one adult case had a mixed papillary and follicular carcinoma with localized metastasis. An increase in thyroid nodule cases noted among the exposed Rongelap people during the past six months may in part be related to incon- sistent thyroid hormone therapy which had been instituted in September, 1965. There was evidence that the hormone had helped in some cases--two hypothyroid boys who had exhibited growth retardation showed considerable improvement and spurt in growth following hormone treatment, on the hormone treatment. However, In one case a nodule disappeared in five other cases (three teenage girls and two adult women) there were either lack of reduction in nodule size, increase in size,or appearance of new nodules, be complying with the treatment schedule. These cases were thought to These five cases will be brought to Brookhaven National Laboratory in May for further examinations and possible Surgery. Also noted were three new cases (teenage boys) with nodules. However, they had not been on hormone therapy. The latter cases will be reevaluated following six months hormone therapy. There were two older Utirik people who had small nodules, probably not significant since there was a low incidence in unexposed people greater than 50 years of age at both Rongelap and Utirik (1.5%), but no nodules were noted in the younger age group 5007408