[Identification and management of hereditary predisposition to cancer of the breast and the ovary (update 2004)].

Background: Since the last recommendations, up to 2,500 new references had been published on that topic.

Methodology: On the behalf of the health Minister, the Ad Hoc Committee consisted of 13 experts carried out a first version revisited by five additional experts who critically analyzed the first version of the report.

Main Updating: Breast and ovarian cancer seem to be associated with fewer deleterious mutation of BRCA12 and BRCA2 than previously thought.