Computed tomographic (CT) scans of the abdomen were obtained in 65 patients with biopsy-proved but untreated small cell carcinoma of the lung. Intra-abdominal metastases were found in 24 (37%), the majority being in the liver and adrenals. Abdominal CT before treatment is recommended as a part of the staging process in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung, since extent of disease is relevant to prognosis.