Central and lateral cervical lymph node dissection are associated to severe morbidity. Correct indication, surgical expertise, high volume of patients and early multidisciplinary management of complications is the key of an acceptable balance between oncologic benefits and surgical morbidity.

This population-based study was designed to detect the prevalence of anemia in a healthy population of children (18 months to 7 years) and women (14 to 30 years) tested in 2006–2007 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil as part of an effort to tackle this massive problem that still affects so many people in the XXI century. Anemia was defined according to the WHO. Capillary blood was measured and socioeconomic status was determined according to the Brazilian Association of Market Research Agencies. The median prevalence of anemia in 2198 children was 45.4% and in 1999 women 36.4%. Anemia decreased with age during childhood; although significantly more prevalent in lower classes individuals, it was also high in the upper classes. There are indirect evidences that the lack of iron supplementation and/or iron fortified food may play a role in it. Professionals and society wise measures of education have to be implemented in order to address possible biologic factors involved in childhood psychosocial development in southern Brazil.

Two hundred general practitioners were equipped with a portable electrocardiograph which could transmit a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) via a telephone line. A cardiologist was available 24 h a day for an interactive teleconsultation. In a 13-month period there were 5073 calls to the telecardiology service and 952 subjects with chest pain were identified. The telecardiology service allowed the general practitioners to manage 700 cases (74%) themselves; further diagnostic tests were requested for 162 patients (17%) and 83 patients (9%) were sent to the hospital emergency department. In the last group a cardiological diagnosis was confirmed in 60 patients and refuted in 23. Seven patients in whom the telecardiology service failed to detect a cardiac problem were hospitalized in the subsequent 48 h. The telecardiology service showed a sensitivity of 97.4%, a specificity of 89.5% and a diagnostic accuracy of 86.9% for chest pain. Telemedicine could be a useful tool in the diagnosis of chest pain in primary care.

Total thyroidectomy via cervical approach is the treatment of choice for MG in the elderly. It should be treated only in referral centers with adequate caution for elderly patients to achieve complete cure with limited complications.

In elderly patients with ATC, although poor prognosis, surgery is still fundamental in the multimodality treatment with significant advantage in selected patients. Nevertheless most of elderly patients with large tumours are suitable only for palliative management.