Neuron Specific Enolase
Understanding Neuron Specific Enolase
What is Neuron Specific Enolase?
The neuron-specific enolase test is an immunoassay technique where doctors take 5 ml of blood from the patient for testing. It is useful for checking how different types of neural crest tumours such as small cell lung carcinoma are growing. In general, doctors use to check how the therapies they prescribe are working post-surgery.
The symptoms that determine whether doctors should perform this examination are cough, weakness, sudden loss of weight, difficulty breathing, and small cell carcinoma screening. This is a useful follow-up testing procedure.
If the treatment process was done well, the serum concentration drops within 24 hours of half-life. The test is also useful for checking NSE levels in the blood. It also helps with the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumours.
What is Neuron Specific Enolase used for?
The test points out irregular levels of the NSE enzyme in the body. NSE has been linked to small cell lung cancer and so, increased levels of the same can mean that the patient has developed cancerous cells in the lung region. The test can be used to diagnose neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, carcinoid, pancreatic cell carcinoma.
Interpreting Neuron Specific Enolase results
Interpretations
In case of small cell lung cancer,
• Normal NSE= less than 13 ng/mL
• Slightly above normal= 13-25 ng/mL
• High NSE= 25-50 ng/mL
• Abnormal NSE= above 50 ng/mL
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