LAUSR

Ovarian carcinoma is the fourth most common cancer for women in Republic of Ireland, with an average of 361 cases per year.1 The association with germline mutations in BRCA1/2 genes in non-mucinous ovarian cancer risk is well established.2 Determining the BRCA status of ovarian cancer patients has important prognostic and therapeutic implications for individual patients.3 The frequency of BRCA1/2 germline mutations in non-mucinous ovarian carcinoma is estimated at 14–15%,2 with previous studies finding a higher rate of 16.6% in serous ovarian carcinoma and 17.1% in high-grade serous carcinoma.3 Family history has been shown not to be sufficiently accurate to predict mutation status.2, 3 In Ireland, as in most European countries, and the United States, the current recommendation is that patients with a family history of breast/ovarian cancer should be offered full mutation screening of the BRCA1/2 genes as appropriate following the assessment by a clinical genetics service.4