Other relevant observations to be made at the time of the scan are cuff thickness and blood flow characteristics. This is associated with partial-thickness tears and suggests that progressive cuff changes are present. Two years later, he returned with a full-thickness tear in the right shoulder at this site. They postulate that power Doppler technology may play a role in monitoring the efficacy of therapy for inflammatory disorders of the shoulder. Note the marked tendinous hyperemia in this patient with a right-side supraspinatus tear.
Tendons are normally nearly avascular.
This patient had tendinitis without tear. Note the hyperemia. Pitfalls in Diagnosis Inadequate transducer positioning is the most common error in scanning the rotator cuff. For example, scanning the supraspinatus transversely with the transducer placed laterally may artifactually mimic a rotator cuff tear. More medial placement will demonstrate an intact supraspinatus.