This study was carried out to analyze the distribution of age, sex, chief complaint, physical examination and findings of chest X-ray films before operation in 59 cases of peptic ulcer perforation. The ratio of male tofemale was 1.7:1 and incidence of the ulcer perforation was most common in 5th decades. Thirty five among 59 cases showed pleural effusion, segmental atelectasis and pneumonic infiltration on chest X-ray film. Twenty nine among50 cases of duodenal ulcer perforation and 6 of 9 cases of stomach ulcer perforation showed positive chest X-ray findings. No relationship was found between fever and preoperative chest X-ray findings.