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.

CONCLUSION:

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: Meagan E Giles, Lauren Murphy, Nevena Krstić, Cathy Sullivan, Syed S Hashmi, Blair Stevens
• Journal: Prenatal diagnosis (Prenat Diagn) Vol. 37 Issue 2 Pg. 126-132 (Feb 2017) ISSN: 1097-0223 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27878832 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• DNA, Neoplasm
• DNA

Topics

• Attitude of Health Personnel
• DNA (analysis, blood)
• DNA, Neoplasm (blood, isolation & purification)
• Female
• Genetic Counseling (methods, organization & administration, statistics & numerical data)
• Health Services Needs and Demand (organization & administration, standards, statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Practice Patterns, Physicians' (standards, statistics & numerical data)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic (blood, diagnosis, genetics)
• Prenatal Diagnosis (methods, statistics & numerical data)
• Referral and Consultation (statistics & numerical data)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Truth Disclosure