What is "dilatation and curettage"

n. (alternative form of dilation and curettage English)

n. a surgical procedure usually performed under local anesthesia in which the cervix is dilated and the endometrial lining of the uterus is scraped with a curet; performed to obtain tissue samples or to stop prolonged bleeding or to remove small tumors or to remove fragments of placenta after childbirth or as a method of abortion [syn: dilation and curettage, D and C]