Universal Screening for BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations

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It has been suggested that all women should be screened for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in the course of routine medical care, notes Maurie Markman, MD. Ovarian cancer is rare, and routine screening for the general population is not warranted at this time, comments Michael J. Birrer, MD. If the general population were to be screened, appropriate follow-up and genetic counseling would need to be offered to all women who test positive, adds Warner K. Huh, MD.

Robert A. Burger, MD, remarks that factors such as family history and ethnicity should be considered when selecting patients for screening. Universal screening may be warranted in segments of the population with a high prevalence of disease, for example, women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.