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What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
A deep vein thrombosis (throm-BO-sis) is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Most deep vein clots occur in the leg or hip veins. They also can occur in other parts of the body. Blood clots in the veins in the thigh are usually more serious than blood clots that happen in veins in your lower leg.
If a clot in a vein breaks off and travels through your bloodstream, it can lodge in your lung. This is called a pulmonary embolism (PUL-mo-ner-e EM-bo-lizm), which is a very serious condition that can cause death.
Blood clots also can occur in veins that are close to the surface of the skin. These types of blood clots are called superficial venous thrombosis or phlebitis (fle-BI-tis). Blood clots in superficial veins cannot travel to the lungs.
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