Guidance on the reporting and clinical follow up of individuals with incidentally discovered germline RET variants in the UK

Abstract

Incidentally discovered pathogenic germline genetic variants refer to the finding of a pathogenic variant in a gene that is unrelated to the reason for the initial test and is not actively sought. Our clinical understanding of the risk of developing a particular medical condition and the required clinical action for a specific pathogenic gene variant is predominately based on knowledge and information acquired from cases ascertained through a ‘phenotype-first approach’ rather than in clinically unselected individuals. Therefore, a modified approach is required for incidentally discovered gene variants. Data from large UK and US population-based cohorts have demonstrated that RET variants classified as moderate-risk RET variants as per the American Thyroid Association (ATA) classification, have a low penetrance for medullary thyroid cancer and other RET related conditions (e.g. phaeochromocytoma) and are not associated with excess mortality when identified incidentally in clinically unselected adult individuals. Here, we provide guidance based on multidisciplinary expert consensus opinion for the reporting and subsequent clinical surveillance and management of patients with incidentally discovered RET gene variants in the UK.