Q: “What is the difference between pulse ablation and intermittent ablation?”

A: The “pulse ablation” described in some manuals and articles is not true narrow-pulse microwave ablation, but rather an intermittent ablation technique.
True pulse ablation requires precise internal control of microwave energy and cannot be performed manually. Intermittent ablation, however, is simply achieved by turning the energy on and off during the procedure.
Both pulse and intermittent ablation involve alternating short heating periods with cooling pauses, helping reduce excessive thermal spread. Continuous ablation delivers uninterrupted energy for faster, more uniform ablation. Each mode has its own clinical advantages.
In most cases, intermittent ablation is not a built-in function in generators and is performed manually by the operator. If clinicians prefer this technique, they may pause energy delivery for several seconds before resuming the next ablation cycle.