Cancer Genetics Risk Assessment and Counseling (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version

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Changes to This Summary (12/13/2018)

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

Introduction

Updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian and NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal as references 12 and 13, respectively.

Identification of Candidates for Referral to Genetic Counseling

Updated NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian and NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal as references 2 and 3, respectively.

Cancer Risk Assessment and Counseling

Updated NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian and NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal as references 12 and 13, respectively.

Added Kishan et al. as reference 25.

Added Athens et al. as reference 45.

Added text to state that a systematic review identified 13 published studies that used a randomized controlled trial design to compare pretest and posttest outcomes for in-person genetic counseling with telephone counseling. Knowledge and psychosocial outcomes were found to be noninferior, equivalent, or not statistically significant between telephone counseling and in-person counseling.

Added text to state that a group reported results of a study where all participants received in-person pretest counseling at one of five participating sites. Those participants willing to be randomized had their results disclosed by telephone or in person. Notably, 30% of participants in this study had multigene panel testing. In this trial, telephone disclosure was noninferior to in-person results disclosure when comparing primary psychosocial outcomes (cited Bradbury et al. as reference 46).

Components of the Risk Assessment Process

Updated NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian and NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal as references 33 and 34, respectively.

The Option of Genetic Testing

Updated NCCN Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian as reference 43.

Revised text to state that clinical confirmation of health-related positive results from direct-to-consumer testing entails repeating the test in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act–certified lab, as well as individual review and verification of the result by laboratory personnel.

This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Cancer Genetics Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® - NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Database pages.

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