Abstract: Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and prognosis of first-line chemotherapy in central type and peripheral type extensive stage small-cell lung cancer patients. Methods Clinical data about 122 extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients who received etoposide and cispatin (EC) or etoposide and carboplatin (EP) first-line chemotherapy in our hospital from January 2010 to January 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different medical imaging performance, the patients were divided into central type group and peripheral type group. The effective rate and survival rate were calculated. Results There was no statistically significant difference in response rate (78.2% vs. 73.6%, P=0.57), disease control rate (87.0% vs 89.5%, P=0.67) and progression-free survival (8.0 m vs 5.3 m, P=0.46) after first-line chemotherapy. The overall survival of peripheral type group was significantly better than that of central type group in delayed phase (18.5 m vs 12.9 m, P=0.00). Conclusion There are no significant differences in response rate and progression free survival between two groups, while the overall survival of patients in peripheral type group is better than in central type group.