"Minimal hypofunction of the gland may have been missed in the past,
since the apparently normal PBI (Protein-Bound Iodine) levels may have
been spuriously high, the true thyroxine level being masked by the.
elevated iodoprotein component charactersitic of the Marshallese."
(p. 42)
[emphasis added]
While it cannot be stated with any certainty that no new thyroid nodules
will be found (two new possible cases were found during the 1972 survey)
it is
most likely that if they are found, they will be in persons who were less than
ten years of age when exposed,
(including one on Utirik)
older than 10 years
although so far there have been three cases
in persons older than 20 years and one case in persons
(12 years old,
exposed on Ailinginae).
This has been borne
out in the case of the Lucky Dragon fishermen who have not developed such
nodules.
This may be due to their generally older age (18-39) and possibly due
to the fact
that much of their drinking water,
unlike that of the Marshallese,
may have come from water tanks not affected by fallout.
At present,
as for the most part in the past,
the United States by experts in the field,
surgery is carried out
such as Dr.
in
Brown Dobyns at the
Cleveland Metropolitan Memorial Hospital, and Dr. Bentley Colcock of the Lahey
Clinic.
The Committee,
of one case,
no.
however,
in reviewing the reports,
who was operated on at
21,
during August of 1964.
the U.S.
takes special note
Naval Hospital in Guam
In Appendix 6, Hospital Summaries of Thyroid Surgical
Cases, eleven and twelve year report, page 96, the summary indicates that "One
parathyroid gland was
identified after its pedicle was divided
was implanted in the belly of the right sternomastoid gland.
thyroids were seen,
pathologist.’
and none were subsequently found
.
.
and
this
No other para-
in the specimen by the
Later reactions of the patient indicated that the parathyroid
thy
Lore 122
.