[Hematogeneous metastases in small cell carcinoma of the lung (author's transl)]

The autopsy findings in 202 cases of small cell carcinoma of the lung are analyzed. The distribution of hematogenous metastases is compared with the findings of other investigators. Summarizing the autopsy findings in 975 cases the incidence of metastases in liver, bone marrow, adrenals and brain is shown. The prophylactic brain irradiation as routine regimen in small cell carcinomas of the lung cannot really improve the results of treatment since only 25% of all cases have metastases in the brain.