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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
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:, BROOK HAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY Honorable Wilfred Goding Trust Territory of tl~cPacific Islands Saipan, Mariana Islands )’The 12-year medical survey of the people of Rongelap and Utirik Islands , who were exposed ,to fallout has been completed. A further communication will. be issued in the near future covering details of the survey. The purpose ofi I this letter is to request your concurrence and help in regard to plans to ~ carry out special medical examinations and possibly surgery in the United States in May of five Rongelap people with disease of the thyroid glands believed to bc due to radioactive fallout . There arc now 18 cases of tllyroid ~ abnormalities among the relatively small population of 69 PCOPIC, an incrc~se of five since last September. You will remember that six of these cases have been operated upon, one of whom turned out to have a cancer of the thyroid . In view of the importance of these findings , early hospitalization is indicated in the case of these five additional people. The Trust Territory personnel on the survey concurred regarding the necessity of these special examinations . The following Rongelap people are involved: Name A~_ Sex Location Parents Jonita - 13 F Ebeye Tinaira, Jabwe Jemlock 13 ,F Ebeye Menadrik Billiet Edmond, a school teacher at Rongelap~ who speaks excellent english> , has agreed to accompany the patients as interpreter. He indicates that school will not be in session during the time of the proposed trip. The following plan is proposed: (1) Before May 1--pick up the people at Rongelap (Billiet, Mina, and Lisa) when one of the three ships in the Marshalls stops there, bringing them to Ebeye. Also return Mary from Majuro to Ebeye. (2) May 2—6--the Trust Territory representatives at Kwajalein indicate that their wives would be glad to help purchase a few necessary items of clothinq for the Marshallese group (to be paid for by the AEC). (3) May 6-- MAC flight to Hickam. (It is presumed that your office will issue the necessary
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clearance or travel papers .) The group will he met at Hickarn by an AEC representative who will arrange overnight accommodations and .sIlbsistence. (4) May 7--ccmunercial flight Honolulu to New York. Reservations and tickets will be on hand upon arrival of the group in Honolulu. I will meet the flight at arrival at Kennedy and take the group to Brookhaven National Laboratory. Their stay in the United States will be approximately a month. We will arrange their return transportation at the end of that time. I have written permission for this hospitalization and surgery from the parents of the children in the group. AS was the case previously, the AEC will absorb the expenses associated with these examinations and transportation to the United States. I understand that the AEC in Honolulu is in contact with your office concerning ‘etails ‘f . billing procedures for such charges as the MAC flight, etc. Your concurrence and assistance in carrying out these plans will bc Director of Medical Services, Saipan District Director of Medical Scrviccs, Marshalls Director of Medical Services, Ebeye
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BROOK HAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY SUBJECT: Results of Thyroid Survey During 1966 Medical Survey Marshall Total incidence of thyroid nodules - 16 cases (incl.~]des1.Ailingnae) Obvious hypothyroidism - 2 cases Zii cases thyroid pathology (In 55 living of original 64 Rongclap heavily exposed group) Nodules, Hypothyroiciisrn Total Abnormalities Cases with surgery 7--no recurrence noted. (1 case of malignancy o: thyroid not completely stuclied yet.) March (2 on hormone, 1 not). Cases with questionable changes in September (not included in statistics at “ that time) showed detiinite abnormalities in March. Presumably on hormone. New cases of”noclular goitre. However, all 3 on inadequate hormone therapy. Case with nodule in September not seen in Flarch since she was away on a distant islaad (included in above table, however). In-utero children-- no nodules or growth impairment has been noted (not included in table).
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Permission was obtained from the parents of children listed below for hospitalization and surgery. 1) Mina F, 13 5 mm. nodule right lower pole; probably new. Taking 2) Jemlock F, 13 Hard 5 mm. nodl]le left lobe. On therapy. lcrt lobe. on Lllerapy. 4) Mary F, 20 1 cm. nodule left lobe. On therapy. 5) Lisa I?, 46 5 mm. nodule midline. About same size as 6 months ago. It was decided that since the other 3 new cases (3 boys) with nodular<goitre had not had adeq[late hormone treatment they would be given a treatment trial for six month5, and these cases would be rcevall~ated at the ‘nd Of that time. -. Abo(]t 60 exposed as children showed no thyroid pathology. In older adlllts two cases of nod[lles: 47, F; 57, F. Control Populations at Ron~elap Between the two islands nearly 200 unexposed people had thyroids