nuclear-news

Japanese medical authorities quiet about high thyroid nodules in Fukushima’s children

the rate of thyroid nodules in children 5 to 10 years after the Chernobyl accident was 1.74%.  The results in Fukushima are merely one year after the accident.  This is a much faster progression

Just 0.8% of children in 2001 Japanese control group had thyroid cysts or nodules — 36% in Fukushima study

Fukushima Children’s Thyroid Examination: How Shunichi Yamashita would like doctors to deal with the results. Introduction  Fukushima Voice May 2012,

This is a letter sent from Shunichi Yamashita, M.D., from Fukushima Medical University to the members of Japan Thyroid Association, of which he is the president.  The letter “asks” or rather “instructs” the members, who are likely to be the thyroid specialists, on how to
deal with the thyroid ultrasound results of Fukushima children. 

Fukushima Medical University seems to have established a unique guideline for interpretation of abnormal ultrasound findings.  ……
Although Shinichi Suzuki, M.D., insisted that these ultrasound findings are “mostly normal” and commonly found in children, the study co-authored by Shunichi Yamashita, M.D., in 2001 revealed that normal children in Nagasaki had 0% nodules and 0.8% cysts on ultrasound.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B68f83tqq7QuNTVkOVdrNzlRWUk

Furthermore, research done in Gomel, Belarus showed that the rate of thyroid nodules in children 5 to 10 years after the Chernobyl accident was 1.74%.  The results in Fukushima are merely one year after the accident.  This is a much faster progression compared to Chernobyl.
According to Dr. Helen Caldicott, this means the Fukushima children received very high doses of radiation.  She says it is not at all normal for children to have thyroid nodules or cysts……
Shunichi Yamashita’s Letter

Dear Japan Thyroid Association members,

Fukushima prefecture is carrying out “Prefectural Resident Health
Management Survey” for all residents for the purpose of long-term
health management as part of the “health watch” project, in the face
of radioactive contamination due to Tokyo Electric Company Fukushima
Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, which happened along with the
Great East Japan Earthquake.
As part of this survey, we have begun the ultrasound examination of
thyroid gland in all prefectural residents ages 0 to 18 at the time of
the accident.  (Please refer to the explanation for the residents.)

So far, because we have carried out the examination on weekends and
holidays at Fukushima Medical University Hospital since October 2011
and on weekdays at the outside areas since mid-November,  the
first-stage examination has already been done on over 15,000
residents.

At this time, the examination results are to be mailed to the
residents after consultation with special committees in and outside
the Medical University.  We are contacting the supporting association
members to ask for understanding of how to deal with these results.

In the first-stage ultrasound examination, we have defined what needs
the second-stage examination as nodules over 5.1 mm and cysts
(non-solid but colloidal or liquid collection only) over 20.1 mm.
Thus, in addition to those with no abnormal findings, those with
nodules smaller than 5 mm or cysts smaller than 20 mm have been
decided not to be the subjects of further testing such as biopsies, or
treatments.  We would imagine that you might receive a few inquiries
or consultations from parents regarding these results.  Please explain
to them well to make sure they understand that any further testing is
not necessary before the next examination
unless symptoms appear.

Also, this examination will be carried out every two years until age
20 and every five years from then on, leading to a long-term thyroid
examination project.  Coordination with base hospitals all over the
nation will be essential, and the examination will be widely
publicized to the residents from now on.

Your continued understanding and cooperation towards this examination
will be appreciated.

January 16, 2012

Shunichi Yamashita, M.D.
Fukushima Medical University Radiological Resident Health Management
Center Chief

Shinichi Suzuki、M.D,
Fukushima Medical University Radiological Resident Health Management Center
Clinical Department Vice Chair (in charge of thyroid examination)
http://fukushimavoice-eng.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/fukushima-childrens-thyroid-examination.html

July 16, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012, health, Japan, Reference