title: Prenatal cfDNA screening results indicative of maternal neoplasm: survey of current practice and management needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine genetic counselors' current practices and management needs for patients with prenatal cfDNA screening results indicative of maternal neoplasm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was completed by genetic counselors recruited via the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 300 genetic counselors were surveyed. Almost all participants (95%) were aware that Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) results may suggest maternal neoplasm, and 77% reported they would disclose such results. However, only 29% routinely communicate this possibility to patients in a pre-test setting. Management recommendations made by counselors were highly variable, and over half (51.8%) stated they would feel uncomfortable or very uncomfortable counseling a patient with these results. While less than half (44.3%) believed the current benefits of NIPT's ability to suggest maternal neoplasm outweigh its potential harms, 80.2% recognized it would be beneficial in the future. A vast majority of counselors (91.3%) felt institutional or national guidelines were needed for patient management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A majority of counselors neither felt properly equipped nor comfortable counseling patients with prenatal cfDNA results suggestive of maternal neoplasm. This study demonstrates a need for collaboration amongst clinicians, researchers, and laboratories to publish data regarding NIPT results indicative of maternal neoplasm, and for the creation of management guidelines. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Counseling Program, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Meagan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.affiliation: Genetic Counseling Program, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Genetic Counseling Program, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Nevena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krstić
authors.affiliation: Lester and Sue Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Syed S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hashmi
authors.affiliation: Genetic Counseling Program, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Blair
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004247:DNA