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CURRENT MEDICAL STATUS OF MARSI-L4LLESE BEST COPY AVAILABLE Dr. Robert Conard of the Medical Department of Brookhaven National Laboratory, on returning from his annual medical examination of the FllrshalIese exposed to fallout following the llarch 1, 1954, test at Bikini, has reported the data summarized in the enclosed table. Retrospective estimates of the internal dose to the thyroids from absorbed r~di.oiodines add 600 to 1400 reins to the 175 rad external dose. Analogous internal doses for the fourteen }%rshallese (six Shildren and eight adults) who hzppcned to be oiI aezrby Ailinginae Atoll at Ehe time of fallout are not a~’ailzble. Dysfunction of the thyroid gland ccntinues to appear in these people at rates far greater thzn would appear by chz~ce. Dr, Conzrd will provide continued medical surveillance of the I:arshallese ~;ith the concurrence of the newly zppointed High Cor.~issioaer, the Hc,norable Edward E. Johnston> and the assistance of the staff of the Trcst Territory and Brookhaven Xational Laboratory. John R. Totter, Director Division of Biology and Kedicine Data on Ysdical Survey r 1.,
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600 to 1400 rem intcrna]), E,=jrch], 1954, when they were: 1 to 8 years of age - Total - 19 1. Currently normal by clinical and biochemical tests. 2 (11%) 2. Currently hypothyroid with minimal modularity. Responding satisfactorily to oral thyroid hormone 3. gave undergone surgery because of nodular thyroids; histologic diagnoses of adenomatous goiter and Hfirthle cell tumor. Responding satisfactorily to oral thyroid hormone therapy. -. .: 4. Recent development of nodules in the thyroid; will go to Brookhaven for evaluation and possible surgery. (None of six Ailinginae children exposed to external dose of 70 rad have shown thyroid dysfunction.)! 11. Surviving adult Rongelapese exposed to fallout:.. -., 1. ?apillary carcinoaa renoved surgically at zge 41. No recurrence. Tzking or~l thyroid hormane i~,~~~py. 12. Small nodule at zge 40 which disappeared uncle-roral thyroid hcrmone therzpy. 3. Rough mass in one lobe at age 36; will go to Brookh=v”en for evaluation and possible surgery. III. Suiviving adult Ailinginae pzople exposed to fzllout (70 rads external dose): 1. Ldenomatous goiter reinoved at age 45. Recovered and on ttiyroid therzpy but died of inFluenza in 1?68.