Café au lait spot

Café au lait spots, or café au lait macules, are flat, pigmented birthmarks.[1] The name café au lait is French for "coffee with milk" and refers to their light-brown color. They are also called "giraffe spots," or "coast of Maine spots," which refers to their jagged borders.[2]

Café au lait spot
A café au lait spot on a patient's left cheek
SpecialtyDermatology 

They are caused by a collection of pigment-producing melanocytes in the epidermis of the skin.[3]

These spots are typically permanent and may grow or increase in number over time.[4]

Café au lait spots are often harmless but may be associated with syndromes such as neurofibromatosis type 1 and McCune–Albright syndrome.[4]

Cause
Neurofibromatosis type I café au lait spot

Café au lait spots can arise from diverse and unrelated causes:[5][6]

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is visual with measurement of spot size. The number of spots can have clinical significance for diagnosis of associated disorders such as Neurofibromatosis type I. Six or more spots of at least 5mm in diameter in pre-pubertal children and at least 15mm in post-pubertal individuals is one of the major diagnostic criteria for NF1.[9]

Prognosis

Café au lait spots are usually present at birth, permanent, and may grow in size or increase in number over time.[4]

Cafe au lait spots are themselves benign and do not cause any illness or problems. However, they may be associated with syndromes such as Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and McCune-Albright syndrome.[4]

The size and shape of the spots can vary in terms of description. In Neurofibromatosis Type 1, the spots tend to be described as ovoid, with smooth borders. In other disorders, the spots can be less ovoid, with jagged borders. In Neurofibromatosis Type 1, the spots tend to resemble the "coast of California," rather than the "coast of Maine," meaning the edges are smoother and more linear. [3]

Treatment

Café au lait spots can be removed with lasers.[10] Results are variable as the spots are often not completely removed or can come back after treatment. Often, a test spot is treated first to help predict the likelihood of treatment success.[11]

See also

References
  1. Plensdorf S, Martinez J (January 2009). "Common pigmentation disorders". American Family Physician. 79 (2): 109–16. PMID 19178061.
  2. coast of Maine spots - General Practice Notebook
  3. al.], editors, Lowell A. Goldsmith ... [et (2012). Fitzpatrick's dermatology in general medicine (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. pp. Chapter 141. ISBN 978-0-07-166904-7.
  4. Morelli, JG (2013). CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics, 22e. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pp. Chapter 15: Skin. ISBN 978-0-07-182734-8.
  5. "Cafe Au Lait Spots", by William D James, MD
  6. Cafe Au Lait Spots
  7. Arnsmeier, Sheryl L.; Riccardi, Vincent M.; Paller, Amy S. (1994). "Familial Multiple Cafe au lait Spots". Arch. Dermatol. 130 (11): 1425–1426. doi:10.1001/archderm.1994.01690110091015. PMID 7979446.
  8. Whyte, M. P.; Podgornik, M. N.; Zerega, J.; Reinus, W. R. (2000). "Café-au-lait spots caused by vitiligo in McCune-Albright syndrome". J Bone Miner Res. 15 (12): 2521–2523. doi:10.1359/jbmr.2000.15.12.2521. PMID 11127218.
  9. "Neurofibromatosis 1". GeneReviews.
  10. Scheinfeld, Noah S.; et al. (2011). "Laser Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions". MedScape Reference.
  11. al.], editors, Lowell A. Goldsmith ... [et (2012). Fitzpatrick's dermatology in general medicine (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. pp. Chapter 239. ISBN 978-0-07-166904-7.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
Classification
External resources
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