Serum NSE levels were investigated in the healthy population and in patients with lung cancer. Considerably higher mean NSE levels compared to the western population were observed in the healthy subjects. Serum NSE values in patients with SCLC were still significantly higher. It was concluded that using the conventionally accepted ranges for the Turkish population cannot lead to conclusive results in the clinical setting. We suggest that using a cut-off level of 30 ng/ml in Turkey, is most appropriate in order to distinguish cancer patient
