The results of clinical and surgical staging in a series of 170 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are reviewed. Advanced disease (Stage IV) was established without laparotomy in 95 patients (56%), primarily through bone marrow biopsy, closed liver biopsy, and peritoneoscopy. Laparotomy revealed a high incidence of liver involvement and involvement of lymph nodes outside of conventional abdominal irradiation portals only in patients with nodular types of pathology and in patients with positive lymphangiograms. The limitations and indications for staging laparotomy are discussed in the context of these findings.