A thrombus, in the vascular context, is a blood clot that forms within a blood vessel or heart chamber, obstructing blood flow. In medical ultrasound, thrombi appear as echogenic (bright) masses within the vessel lumen, often causing partial or complete occlusion. Identifying and characterizing thrombi is crucial for diagnosing conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial occlusion.
Ultrasound is a primary imaging modality for detecting vascular thrombi, allowing for real-time visualization and assessment of clot burden and blood flow dynamics using Doppler techniques. Early and accurate ultrasound detection of a thrombus is vital for timely intervention to prevent serious complications such as pulmonary embolism or stroke.