Genetic testing, such as BRCA
Germline vs somatic
- Two distinct questions, often conflated
- Germline - inherited, present in every cell; implications for the patient's future cancers and for the family
- Somatic (tumour) - acquired, tumour-only; implications for this cancer's treatment
- Somatic testing can incidentally reveal a germline variant - consent must cover this
12 more sections, plus exam facts
Premium unlocks every note across every specialty, and the full exam fact library behind it.
Get premium access