Tram track (medicine)


Tram tracks or tram-track signs are medical signs that bear some resemblance to tramway tracks.

Pulmonology

When found in the lungs, tram tracks are radiologic signs that are usually accompanied by pulmonary edema in cases of congestive heart failure and bronchiectasis. Tram tracks are caused by bronchial wall thickening, and can be detected on a lateral chest X-ray.

Nephrology

The term "tram tracks" is also used to describe the basement membrane duplication found on light microscopy that is characteristic of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I.

Neurology

The term has also been used to describe findings associated with optic nerve sheath meningioma.
Tram track-shaped calcifications in the cerebral cortex indicate Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Mammary glands

Tram track appearance in mammography/USG indicates Duct Ectasia.