What is a characteristic appearance of Fanconi anemia?

Fanconi anemia is primarily characterized by short stature among its various clinical features. Children with Fanconi anemia often present with growth delays, leading to shorter-than-average height compared to peers. This condition is a genetic disorder that affects the bone marrow, leading to a decreased production of blood cells and other abnormalities such as skeletal malformations and increased risk of cancers.

Additionally, children may exhibit other signs such as café-au-lait spots and skeletal anomalies. However, the hallmark of growth delays manifests most prominently as short stature, which is a critical component in identifying a patient with this condition. Other options such as tall stature, abnormal eye color, or pallor do not serve as defining characteristics of Fanconi anemia and are not consistently observed in affected individuals.