What is "fulguration"

Fulguration \Ful"gu*ra`tion\, n. [L. fulguratio: cf. F. fulguration.]

1. The act of lightening. [R.]
   --Donne.

2. (Assaying) The sudden brightening of a fused globule of gold or silver, when the last film of the oxide of lead or copper leaves its surface; -- also called blick.

   A phenomenon called, by the old chemists, fulguration.
   --Ure.

n. 1 The quality of flashing like lightning. 2 (context medicine English) cauterization with electricity; electrocautery. 3 (context chemistry obsolete English) The sudden brightening of a fused globule of gold or silver, when the last film of the oxide of lead or copper leaves its surface.

Fulguration, also called electrofulguration, is a procedure to destroy and remove tissue (such as a malignant tumor) using a high-frequency electric current applied with a needlelike electrode. During fulguration, lesions are ablated (destroyed) by the use of high frequency current and is essentially similar to cauterization. Fulgration is used to ablate tumors and other lesions such as hemangiomas and warts. It is either performed in an operation theater by a surgeon or an out-patient basis by a surgeon or dermatologist.