One hundred fifty-nine computed tomographic (CT) scans were performed on 123 patients (90 Hodgkin's disease and 33 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). Seventeen patients were shown to have involvement of the chest wall. Computed tomographic scans were more sensitive in detecting chest wall lesions than conventional x-rays and clinical examination. This information was important in staging the extent of disease at presentation, guiding radiation therapy, and assessing response to treatment. The anterior chest wall was most commonly affected with or without associated anterior mediastinal disease, but other sites also were involved.