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Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Bergmeister Papilla

Bergmeister Papilla

Category(ies): Pathology
Contributor: Joanna IM Silverman, MD and Thomas A. Oetting, MD, MS
Photographer: Sarah Skiles, CRA
Posted: June 26, 2022

Bergmeister papilla are often benign, asymptomatic findings that represent fetal remnants of the hyaloid artery (incomplete resorption of Cloquet’s canal). As this finding denotes persistent fetal vasculature, Bergmeister papilla are often found in individuals born prematurely. Though not present in this fundus photo, Bergmeister papilla can contain retinal vessels (i.e. prepapillary vascular loop), which in very rare instances can thrombose, leading to symptomatic vitreous hemorrhage, BRAO/BRVO, or hyphema. However, for the vast majority of individuals, this is an asymptomatic, incidental finding requiring no further workup.

Fundus photo demonstrating a Bergmeister papilla
Fundus photo demonstrating a Bergmeister papilla present on the optic nerve head of the right eye.
References:
  1. Goldberg MF. Persistent fetal vasculature (PFV): An integrated interpretation of signs and symptoms associated with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV). Am J Ophthalmol. 1997;124(5):587-626. doi:10.1016/s0002-9394(14)70899-2
  2. Brucker AJ, Michels RG, Fine SL. Congenital retinal arterial loops and vitreous hemorrhage. Am J Ophthalmol. 1977;84(2):220-223. doi:10.1016/0002-9394(77)90855-8

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Ophthalmic Atlas Images by EyeRounds.org, The University of Iowa are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.