How many café-au-lait spots are concerning?

Café-au-lait (CAL) spots are benign (noncancerous), harmless and will not affect your child's body. If your child has more than six CAL spots, visit your healthcare provider because multiple CAL spots can be a sign of an underlying genetic condition.

How many café-au-lait spots are concerning?

Cafe au lait spots usually appear singly. More spots can occur in children with a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis or other conditions. If your child has six or more cafe au lait spots, ask your doctor whether your child needs a medical examination.

When should I worry about café-au-lait spots?

Café au lait spots are usually harmless and don't cause any uncomfortable symptoms or complications. But you shouldn't ignore these spots, especially if you have more than a handful on your body. This could indicate an underlying genetic disorder.

How rare are café-au-lait spots?

Approximately 10% of the general population has one or two café-au-lait spots. However, having more than 5 café-au-lait spots (referred to as multiple CALS) is rare.

Can you have 6 café-au-lait spots without neurofibromatosis?

Can you have café-au-lait spots without having neurofibromatosis? Yes. It is very common for people to have a few café-au-lait spots on their bodies without having an underlying condition like neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

Café-au-lait spots

Do café-au-lait spots run in family?

Abstract. Multiple café-au-lait spots have been observed in successive generations of several families without any other manifestations of neurofibromatosis (NF) or any other systemic disorder. The café-au-lait spots in these families segregate as an autosomal dominant trait.

When is NF1 usually diagnosed?

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is usually diagnosed during childhood. Signs are often noticeable at birth or shortly afterward and almost always by age 10. Signs and symptoms are often mild to moderate, but can vary in severity.

What do neurofibromas look like at first?

Typically, people with NF1 start to see neurofibromas appear during their teens. The neurofibromas grow slowly and may look like a pimple at first. You won't wake up one morning, or next year, and be covered with neurofibromas. They develop gradually over a period of many years.

Can NF1 be mild?

The symptoms of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are often mild and cause no serious health problems. But some people will have severe symptoms. The symptoms of NF1 can affect many different areas of the body, but it's unlikely someone will develop all of them.

Do café-au-lait spots always mean neurofibromatosis?

It is not unusual for a healthy child to have a few café-au-lait spots, and it is not recommended to provide an evaluation for NF1 if the spots are fewer than six in number. These spots also should be clear and distinct – finding very faint or small skin spots does not count towards the six spots needed for diagnosis.

Does NF1 get worse with age?

Typically, adults with NF1 will develop more neurofibromas over time. They may grow for a period of time and then stop growing. In addition, they may change in shape or color as they grow. Sometimes, they can also be associated with itching or slight discomfort when bumped.

What do NF1 tumors look like?

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a hereditary condition commonly associated with multiple café-au-lait spots on the skin. Café-au-lait spots are light brown in color, like the color of “coffee with milk.” About 10% to 25% of the general population has café-au-lait spots; NF1 is suspected when a person has 6 or more.

Can you live a normal life with neurofibromatosis?

Children and adults with NF1 can have a variety of symptoms and medical problems which can change across a lifespan. Most people with NF1 have a normal life expectancy. Because many of the other clinical features of NF1 develop as an individual gets older, getting the correct diagnosis may take several years.

Can you have neurofibromatosis and not know?

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Neurofibromatosis Type 1? Most newborns with neurofibromatosis type 1 have no symptoms, but some have curved lower leg bones. By their first birthday, most children with NF1 have several skin spots, called café-au-lait ("coffee with milk") spots because of their color.

How do I know if my baby has neurofibromatosis?

Light brown spots on the skin called café-au-lait spots. These are the most common signs of NF, and they often appear at birth or in the first years of life. They're harmless, but if your child has more than six, she probably has NF1. Freckles in the armpits or groin area also are signs of NF1.

Is NF1 fatal?

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)

In most cases, symptoms of NF1 are relatively mild, allowing patients to live normal and productive lives. However, the disorder can also be debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening.

Is NF1 considered a disability?

Although neurofibromatosis is a serious condition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not specifically list the disorder as a disability. But, the symptoms that accompany the condition can be reviewed for benefits.

How do you get rid of NF1 bumps?

There is no known treatment or cure for neurofibromatosis or schwannomatosis. Medication can be prescribed to help with pain. In some cases, growths may be removed surgically or reduced with radiation therapy.

What can be mistaken for neurofibromatosis?

Legius syndrome also is called a neurofibromatosis 1-like syndrome because its symptoms are similar to NF1. Individuals with Legius syndrome have skin problems including brown birthmarks, called cafe-au-lait spots, and freckling, as well as mild learning problems and a larger head.

What is the life expectancy of someone who has neurofibromatosis?

If there are no complications, the life expectancy of people with NF is almost normal. With the right education, people with NF can live a normal life. Although mental impairment is generally mild, NF1 is a known cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

What is the average life expectancy of someone with NF1?

Mean and median ages at death for persons with NF1 were 54.4 and 59 years, respectively, compared with 70.1 and 74 years in the general population.

How do I know if my neurofibroma is cancerous?

Doctors may soon be able to use a blood test to distinguish between benign and cancerous tumors in people with NF1. People with an inherited condition known as neurofibromatosis type 1, or NF1, often develop non-cancerous, or benign, tumors that grow along nerves.

Can NF1 cause leukemia?

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. Patients with NF1 have a higher risk to develop juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) with a possible progression toward acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Who is most likely to get neurofibromatosis?

The only true risk factor for developing neurofibromatosis is having a parent who also has the condition. In nearly half of all cases of type 1 and type 2 neurofibromatosis, and in around 15 percent of schwannomatosis cases, the condition is passed down from parent to child.

What happens if neurofibromatosis is left untreated?

These tumors originate from Schwann cells, which protect your nerve cells and neurotransmitters. Spinal cord schwannomas are common in those with NF2. If left untreated, they can cause paralysis.