VACUUM-ASSISTED ASPIRATION BIOPSY: MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENT FOR BENIGN BREAST TUMORS (A LITERATURE REVIEW)

Vacuum-assisted aspiration biopsy (VAB) has been in use for over 20 years. It is an accurate and safe procedure with a sensitivity of 97 %, specificity of 100 %, and accuracy of 99 %. VAB is used for the evaluation of nonpalpable tumors suspicious for breast cancer. Since 2000, VAB is widely used as a therapeutic method for total biopsy or resection of benign breast tumors (breast fibroadenoma, recurrent cysts, and intraductal or intracyctic hyperplasia). Many authors consider VAB as an alternative to standard surgery. VAB demonstrates good results in the minimally invasive treatment of nodular mastopathy. VAB technique is continuously being improved, which indicates the progress in medical science and successful implementation of minimally invasive treatments into clinical practice.