Both a thrombus and a embolus are a blood clot or foreign body within a blood vessel, resulting in the blocking of blood flow. The key difference between the two derives from where the clot is formed.
A thrombus is defined as a blood clot that forms within a blood vessel. An embolus is any piece of the clot that breaks off and travels through the bloodstream until it lodges itself into a blood vessel that is too small to pass through.
While both blockages are similar, the distinction between the two types can determine how a blood vessel handles the normal return of blood flow. Ultimately, a thrombectomy will be able to treat a patient diagnosed with either a thrombus or embolus.