The Role of a Registrar for Patients with Familial Tumor

Abstract

We have continuously accumulated and investigated patients' records since 1922 and found that about 30% of patients with thyroid disease had at least one firstor second-degree relative with some form of thyroid disease. Currently, we have a specialist as the registrar and are focusing on familial thyroid diseases. In Japan, registrar for patients with familial tumor have not previously existed. However, the registrar's role is expanding, from the investigation and registration of family records, and discovery of probable or evident hereditary families, to follow-up of patients in these families. The registrar also responds to patient queries and anxieties that are not handled by the doctor. These consultations, which provide patients with appropriate genetic counseling, are needed by the registrar. Genetic information should be maintained with appropriate safeguards and this issue is now problematic. We think that the safeguard of genetic information can be well organized by co-operation between the doctor and registrar. In this paper, we emphasize the importance and necessity of the registrar and describe his work in our hospital.