All physicians responsible for the medical care of adult women should know
how to assess whether a woman's personal or family history of breast or ova
rian cancer suggests a hereditary syndrome, the medical management options
available for women with hereditary cancer risks, and which women should be
offered testing for hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer. This art
icle summarizes the biologic basis, family history features, clinical manag
ement, and laboratory diagnosis of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer ris
k.