Faint lines.

In Hall, we learn that patients with germline mutations conferring radiation sensitivity (e.g., mutations in ATM) should probably not have the same thresholds for radiation recs. Problem is, what used to be diagnosed via clinical manifestations (e.g., ataxia telangiectasia)—denoting, by definition, clinical significance—is now being picked up by any variety of home genetic testing kits customers are throwing in their carts like pregnancy tests. Because no one knows what the heck to do with a heterozygous ATM-mutation, ASTRO convened a panel to provide some general guidance. They recommend clinical decisions not be influenced by any variant of unknown significance unless or until it becomes known, and heterozygous mutations should not be viewed as conferring increased radiation risk except, ok, perhaps very modestly in ATM. TBL: No one knows what to make of myriad germline test results coming our way, but you have the backing of ASTRO to ignore them until we know better. | Bergom, Int J Radiat Biol Phy 2019