title: Hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndromes in the Maritimes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to characterize the population referred to the Maritime Medical Genetics Service (MMGS) because of increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer, and to evaluate the MMGS referral criteria for this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed a retrospective cohort of patients at increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer (n = 574) with appointments between January 2001 and May 2007 at the MMGS. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics in Filemaker Pro 8.5v1 and Microsoft Excel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 574 patients, 253 (44%) had test results available at the time of data collection, and 65 (25.7%) had BRCA mutations (44 BRCA1 and 21 BRCA2). Positive test results for each referral criterion ranged from 0% to 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of referral criteria at the MMGS yielded higher rates of positive test results than previously thought. It may be beneficial to expand testing criteria to ensure that everyone who may carry a mutation is offered testing.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Quinn
authors.affiliation: Maritime Medical Genetics Service, IWK Health Centre, Halifax NS.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.affiliation: Maritime Medical Genetics Service, IWK Health Centre, Halifax NS; Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax , NS.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ludman
authors.affiliation: Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kieser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies