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BYharen
UNITED STATES
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.c. 20545
AUG 5
407FO
6B
Mr. Jonn T. Conway
Executive Director
Joint Cotmittee on Atomic Energy
Congress of the United States
Dear Mr. Conway:
On March 25, 1965, you were advised of the three added Rongelap people
with thyroid tumors noted during the 1965 annual medical survey of the
Rongelap Islanders who were exposed to fallout from the Bravo Test in
1954. Dr. Robert Conard, leader of the survey team, Medical Department,
Brookhaven National Laboratory, has advised Dr. C. L. Dunham, Director,
AEC's Division of Biology and Medicine, that these Rongelapese (the two
males, 12 and 17 years of age, and one woman, 41 years ofage) were.
brought to this country for study at the Brookhaven National Laboratory,
and during the week of July 5, 1965, were successfully operated on at
the Lahey Clinic in Boston.
Tl.e-two teen-age boys were found each to have a solitary benign tumor
of the thyroid. These nodules were removed surgically. The middle-aged
woman was found to have a carcinoma of the thyroid gland with some
metastases to local structures. A sub-total thyroidectomy was carried
out. In her case, the prognosis is.fair. She will be given 30 millicuries of Iodine-131 in the hope of destroying any persisting thyroid
tissue.
It is interesting that the dose of radioiodine to the thyroid gland in
the case of the woman is estimated at about 160 rads, or approximately
one-tenth that to the glands of the youths.
These three Rongelap natives have now been returned to their Island in
satisfactory condition.
They were accompanied in their travel and
treatment by Dr. John Iaman, native medical practitioner, Trust Territory.
We shall keep you informed of any new developments.
US DOE ARCHIVES
ATOMIC ENERGY
U.S.
326
RG ____sCOMMIss1oN
Collection F.C.Senberg
Box
57
Folder $-/-Connespenklence_
To the SCH-SEpT1Tee
Sincerely yours,
s signed 7
Oriana! fgavenaah
Whessacant General Manager for
Research and Development
7