RG
COMMISSI
Cellection AC. SEA Boke
Box
408516
ERERGY
ze u.SATOMICON
CQry
©9
October 2, 1964
Folder O+*\2-Dy, of Biotooy +
Mspic weE~dan_Dec, 1165"
MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN SEABORG
THROUGH GENERAL MANAGER
SUBJECT:
THYROID DISEASE IN RONGELAP ISLANDERS
During the February 1964 annual medical survey of the Marshallese
Islanders exposed to fallout from the March 1, 1954, shot over
Bikini, three young teenagers, 13-14 years ald, were found to have
nodules in their thyroid glands. The medical team felt that two of
them should have immediate thyroidectomies, and these operations were
successfully carried out at the Naval Hespital on Guam with the full
cooperation of the Trust Territory peeple and the medical services
of the Department of Defense.
The pathological diagnoses were papillary adenocarcinoma, a mslignant
tumer of the thyroid. The prognosis, of course, is uncertain, but
the surgeons are reported to have felt that they may have removed all
the neoplastic tissue. While this information has not been transmitted
formally, it is regarded as reliable. It is planned that a ten year
summary of the health status ef the exposed Marshallese, including
these recent developments, will be prepared for prompt publication in
a prominent journal such as the Journal of the American Madical
Association.
Preparations are now going ahead to have the third child with a
small nodule operated on as soon as possible.
The estisated doses
to these thyroids sre some 100 te 175 rads external gamma plus 100 to
150 rads from absorbed radiotodine.
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
EQEY