The genetics and diagnostic aspects of café-au-lait patches

Hyperpigmentation may be the sign of benign or relatively easily treated condition or it may indicate the presence of a life threatening condition.The aim of this work was an attempted to provide an overview of some recent advances of CALPs in general population. We also review some associated disorder with CALPs.The presence of large or numerous CALPs should raise the suspicion of many genetic disorders such as Bloom syndrome, ataxia telangietasia, tuberous sclerosis, the Russell-silver syndrome and many other syndromes.Follow up of the patient with multiple CALPs is very important for detection of syndromes and prenatal diagnosis and treatment in cases of positive family history or excision of symptomatic tumour in progression of cases with age.