Tumor cells from a total of 116 children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were studied for their pattern of reactivity with a battery of cell markers, including their capacity for spontaneous formation of sheep erythrocyte rosettes (E-rosettes), demonstration of surface immunoglobulins (SIg), and positivity with antisera against T-cell antigens, the common acute-lymphoblastic-leukemia-associated antigen (cALLa), and Ia-like antigens. Fifty-eight children (50%) had T-cell lymphomas, including all those with mediastinal tumors. Fifty children (43%) had B-cell lymphomas, including 44 of the 45 with abdominal primaries. Eight children (7%) had non-T, non-B tumors, 4 of whom presented at a young age with cutaneous lymphoblastic tumors. These results demonstrate that the great majority of children with NHL, not leukemic at diagnosis, have tumors clearly committed to either T- or B-cell differentiation pathways and only rarely exhibit the common ALL phenotype (cALLa+, Ia+, E-, T-, SIg-), contrasting with the distribution of childhood lymphoblastic leukemias. The unusual association of these non-T, non-B cases with skin involvement has not previously been reported, raising speculation regarding patterns of lymphocyte traffic and origins of childhood lymphomas and leukemias.