Neovascularity
peritendinous, transducer
NEOVASCULARIZATION
The transducer is placed perpendicular to obtain a sagittal view of the Achilles tendon at the most painful part on palpation. The upper limit of the colour box is set on the dorsal side of the tendon. Pressure from the transducer is kept to a minimum to prevent the occlusion of neovascularization. The assessor screens the tendon for the area of maximum Doppler flow during the preparation phase for 1 min. The transducer is gently moved to medial and lateral over where Doppler flow is present. When the location of the maximum Doppler flow is identified, a sonographic image is taken. The modified Öhberg score from 0 to 4 + is determined during the US examination. In this scoring system, scores are determined as 0 (no vessels), 1 + (1 vessel, primarily anterior to the tendon), 2 + (1 or 2 vessels throughout the tendon), 3 + (3 vessels throughout the tendon), or 4 + (more than three vessels throughout the tendon). A higher score indicates more Doppler flow in the peritendinous and intratendinous tissues [