Café-au-lait spots are most commonly associated with which condition?

Café-au-lait spots are light brown skin lesions that are often seen in individuals with certain genetic conditions. Their most significant association is with neurofibromatosis type 1, also known as von Recklinghausen's disease. This genetic disorder is characterized by the formation of multiple neurofibromas (benign tumors of the nervous system) and other skin manifestations, including the presence of café-au-lait spots. In fact, having six or more café-au-lait spots that are larger than 5 mm in prepubertal individuals or larger than 15 mm in postpubertal individuals is a diagnostic criterion for neurofibromatosis type 1.

While café-au-lait spots may be seen in other contexts, such as in individuals with darker skin or in other medical conditions, none is as strongly associated with these spots as neurofibromatosis is. They are common in various populations, especially among those with darker skin; however, this is more of a general observation rather than a condition that has specific diagnostic criteria associated with café-au-lait spots.

With other options, such as precancerous conditions after biopsy or Wilson's disease, while they represent significant medical concerns, do not hold a direct relationship with the presentation of