OUTLINE: Patients receive patent blue V dye injection peritumorally prior to surgery. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is performed using technetium Tc 99 sulfur rhenium colloid injected around the tumor associated with intraoperative gamma probe detection. Nonpalpable tumors receive a localized injection using stereotactic injection techniques. Patients then undergo standard axillary (level I and II) lymph node dissection.