Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 1
ATOMIC ENERGY COMM ISS1ON MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN SEABORG SUBJECT : RECENT INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF MARSHALLESE EXPOSED TO FALLOUT FROM The following updates the informstion on this THE BIKINI TEST subject with respect to our last memorandum dated May 4, 1966 (copy attached) . The five cases mentioned on page 2, paragraph 2, were brought from Rongelap to Brookhaven during the latter half of May and admitted to the Medical Department on May 26, 1966. After thorough evaluation they were transferred to the New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, for subtotal thyroidectomies. Following operation, they were returned to Brookhaven on June 11, discharged from Brookhaven on June 16, and All withstood surgery easily and have exhibited no complications except the expected hypothyroidic state which is to be treated ‘by daily oral administration of appropriate thyroid hormone. All the patients were females with present ages of 46, 20, 15, 13, and 13, or respective ages of 34, 8, 3, 1, and 1 years at time of exposure. All showed adenomatous goiters with nodules varying from one large single nodule to multiple small ones; one patient had a small nodule with Hurtle cells which, while anaplastic, are not necessarily
Page 2
Dr. Conard visited Rongelap in September 1966 and found these patients to be without new medical problems. The nodules in the thyroids of the remaining patients seem to be controllable by the administration of thyroid hormone. Decisions regarding possible surgery for them and further medical regimens are being deferred until the next annual survey of the Marshallese next month by Dr. Conard and his team. Division of Biology and Medicine Copy of 5/4/66 Memo