Chapter 5. Using a Pedigree to Recognize Individuals with an Increased Susceptibility to Cancer
Published Online: 19 MAR 2002
DOI: 10.1002/0471223913.ch5
Copyright © 1999 by Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Book Title
The Practical Guide to the Genetic Family History
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bennett, R. L. (2002) Using a Pedigree to Recognize Individuals with an Increased Susceptibility to Cancer, in The Practical Guide to the Genetic Family History, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, USA. doi: 10.1002/0471223913.ch5
Publication History
- Published Online: 19 MAR 2002
- Published Print: 7 APR 1999
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780471251545
Online ISBN: 9780471223917
- Summary
- Chapter
Keywords:
- cancer syndromes;
- cancer- medical-family history questions;
- metastatic cancer sites;
- cancer and occupational exposures;
- cancer and life-style
Summary
A pedigree is the most cost-effective tool for identifying individuals who may have an inherited predisposition to cancer. The screening questionnaire in Appendix A.3 can be used to screen low-risk individuals, and a more extensive history in the form of a pedigree can be obtained on individuals with positive responses on the screening questionnaires. This chapter emphasizes:
The medical-family history features suggestive of an inherited cancer syndrome or a site-specific cancer susceptibility
Medical-family history queries for cancer
The importance of documenting the primary cancer(s) with medical records
Some common patient errors in recalling cancer events in a family history
Several useful tables are included, such as:
Known autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndromes and their gene locations
Tables of benign tumors and neoplasms associated with autosomal dominant cancer syndromes
Preferential sites of metastasis of some human tumors
Life-style and occupational risk factors for cancer