title: Committee opinion no. 634: Hereditary cancer syndromes and risk assessment.
abstract: A hereditary cancer syndrome is a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer, often with onset at an early age, caused by inherited mutations in one or more genes. Cases of cancer commonly encountered by obstetrician-gynecologists or other obstetric-gynecologic providers--such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer--are features of specific hereditary cancer syndromes. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes related to gynecologic cancer include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. A hereditary cancer risk assessment is the key to identifying patients and families who may be at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. Screening should include, at minimum, a personal cancer history and a first- and second-degree relative cancer history that includes a description of the type of primary cancer, the age of onset, and the lineage (paternal versus maternal) of the family member. In addition, a patient's ethnic background can influence her genetic risk. If a hereditary cancer risk assessment suggests an increased risk of a hereditary cancer syndrome, referral to a specialist in cancer genetics or a health care provider with expertise in genetics is recommended for expanded gathering of family history information, risk assessment, education, and counseling, which may lead to genetic testing.
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000379:methods*; D010375:Pedigree; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods