Uncertainties in Genetic Testing for Chronic Disease

Article Abstract:

Genetic testing now permits patients to learn of susceptibility to disease and identify genetic conditions years before symptoms develop. Historically, genetic testing was limited to testing of newborns. Using genetic information contained in white blood cells, geneticists can detect genes which may increase the risk of disease in older children and adults. However, possessing a gene associated with a disease may not necessarily indicate imminent health problems. Counseling patients about disease susceptibility is a challenge for health care workers, as some genes alter a patient's risk profile, but produce no apparent symptoms.

Diseases, Genetic aspects, Genetic screening, Genetic testing, Disease susceptibility

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Increasing incidence of thyroid cancer in the United States, 1973-2002

Article Abstract:

The increasing incidence of thyroid cancer in the US is predominantly due to the increased detection of small papillary cancers. These trends, combined with the known existence of a substantial reservoir of subclinical cancer and stable overall mortality, suggest that increasing incidence reflects increased detection of subclinical disease, not an increase in the true occurrence of thyroid cancer.

United States, Diagnosis, Risk factors, Thyroid cancer, Disease/Disorder overview

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