One of the major risk factors for developing breast cancer is a positive family history for this disease. A detailed family history is critical for breast cancer risk evaluation and for evaluation of the probability of a genetic predisposition to breast cancer in the family (the hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome). Various models have been developed to evaluate these risks. The diagnosis of a low, moderate or high breast cancer risk is associated with adapted breast cancer screening procedures. Screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended only for women identified as high risk. Genetic testing of the main breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, is now available in a clinical setting.