- Curettage
- The removal of growths or other material from the wall of a cavity or other surface, as with a curet. A curet, or curette, is a spoon-shaped instrument with a sharp edge. The word "curette" comes from French and means a scraper. The verb "curer" means to scrape or clean. Curettage may, for example, be used to remove a skin cancer. After a local anesthetic numbs the area, the cancer is scooped out with a curette. Dilation and curettage (D & C) refers to dilation of the cervix (widening the cervix) and curettement of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus).
* * *A scraping, usually of the interior of a cavity or tract, for the removal of new growths or other abnormal tissues, or to obtain material for tissue diagnosis. SYN: curettement.- periapical c. 1. removal of a cyst or granuloma from its pathologic bony crypt, utilizing a curette; 2. the removal of tooth fragments and debris from sockets at the time of extraction or subsequent removal of bone sequestra.- subgingival c. removal of subgingival calculus, ulcerated epithelial and granulation tissues found in periodontal pockets. SYN: apoxesis.- suction c. a form of abortion in which the cervix is dilated if necessary and the products of conception removed by use of a canula attached to a suction source; technique used to complete a spontaneous incomplete abortion or as a form of induced abortion. SYN: dilation and suction.
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cu·ret·tage .kyu̇r-ə-'täzh n a surgical scraping or cleaning by means of a curette* * *
n.the scraping of the skin or the internal surface of an organ or body cavity by means of a spoon-shaped instrument (curette), usually to remove diseased tissue or to obtain a specimen for diagnostic purposes (see also dilatation and curettage). Curettage of the skin is combined with cauterization; it may be used for the removal of basal cell carcinoma, seborrhoeic keratosis, etc., and usually causes little scarring.* * *
cu·ret·tage (ku″rə-tahzhґ) [Fr.] the removal of growths or other material from the wall of a cavity or other surface, as with a curet; called also curettement.Curettage of a basal cell carcinoma.
Medical dictionary. 2011.