Bottom Line: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is broadening its recommendation on screening for potentially harmful mutations of the breast cancer susceptibility BRCA1/2 genes, which are associated with increased risk of certain cancers. The USPSTF now recommends primary care clinicians assess risk in women with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal (tissue lining the abdominal cavity) cancer or those who have an ancestry associated with BRCA1/2 mutations. Women with a positive result on that risk assessment should receive genetic counseling and, if indicated after counseling, genetic testing. The USPSTF recommends against routine risk assessment, genetic counseling, or genetic testing for women whose personal or family history or ancestry is not associated with BRCA1/2 mutations.
(doi:10.1001/jama.2019.10987)
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Note: More information about the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, its process, and its recommendations can be found on the newsroom page of its website.