Some have argued that incidental findings should not be reported at all in clinical sequencing until there is strong evidence of benefit, while others have advocated that variations in any and all disease-associated genes could be medically useful and should be reported.19 The Working Group acknowledged that there was insufficient evidence about benefits, risks and costs of disclosing incidental findings to make evidence-based recommendations. Nonetheless, based upon available evidence and clinical consensus among its members, the Working Group determined that reporting some incidental findings would likely have medical benefit for the patients and families of patients undergoing clinical sequencing. In reaching this consensus we recognized that our clinical experience has been derived largely from patients with disease symptoms or positive family histories. As additional evidence accrues on the penetrance of these variants among persons without symptoms or family history, these recommendations will be expected to evolve.
