Monoclonal anti-tumor antibodies have great promise for radioimmunodetection and localization of tumors. Fab and F(ab'')2 fragments, which lack the Fc fragment of antibody (Ab), are cleared more rapidly from the circulation and may have less nonspecific tissue binding than intact Ab. In radioimaging studies using a murine monoclonal antibody to carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] in a human colon carcinoma xenografted into hamsters, F(ab'')2 fragments were superior to Fab fragments and intact antibody for scintiscanning. In double-label experiments with anti-CEA antibody and control monoclonal IgG, F(ab'')2 fragments gave better and more rapid specific tumor localization than intact antibody or Fab fragments. F(ab'')2 fragments offer significant promise for tumor imaging and possibly therapy.