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This randomized clinical trial studies two different tests that are currently being used to detect the spread of breast cancer to the lymph nodes under the arm in candidates for breast conservation therapy. The two tests are sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and axillary ultrasound. The current standard of care is sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is a surgical procedure. Axillary ultrasound (AUS) may be just as good as SLNB for detecting the spread of cancer but without the surgical risks.

In this prospective randomized non-inferiority study we aim to determine the utility of axillary ultrasound (AUS) as a pre-operative staging modality for patients with clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer with the hope that it will be a minimally invasive replacement for SLNB.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient must be female.
• Patient must be at least 18 years of age.
• Patient's clinical stage must be documented as tumor size less than 5 cm, with no palpable nodes and no evidence of metastatic disease (T1 or T2 N0 M0). For patients who will receive neoadjuvant systemic therapy, pre-treatment clinical stage should be used.
• Patient must have a negative (normal) axillary ultrasound performed at Siteman Cancer Center. Lymph nodes will be evaluated based on morphologic features. AUS wil be considered positive (abnormal)if lymph nodes are noted to be completely hypoechoic (absent hilum) or have focal hypoechoic cortical thickening/lobulation greater than 4 mm.
• Patient must have a tissue diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma
• Patient must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status \