Korean J Med.
2001 Apr;60(4):337-341.
Clinical usefulness of KolomarkTM, a Korean radio-opaque marker for measuring colon transit time
- Affiliations
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- 1Division of Gastroenterology, Samsung Medical Center Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Biochemical Engineering, Samsung Medical Center Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. plrhee@smc.samsung.co.kr
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Among various methods for measuring colon transit time, radio-opaque marker study
is simple, reproducible and economical method. The commonly used marker, Sitzmarks
(Konsyl Pharmaceuticals Inc. Texas) had limitation in its use due to expensiveness and
difficulty in importation. We thought that the new domestic marker comparable to Sitzmarks
is necessary and made a Kolomark (Korean colon marker)TM. The comparison of radio-opaqueness
and the measurement of colon transit times by two markers were done.
METHODS
In two 1000 ml beakers, 350 ml of rice-gruel, several chicken-bones and ten rings
of Sitzmarks and KolomarkTM were mixed separately. Then, X-ray films of the two beakers
were taken. The digital image file was analyzed by Image and the value of pixels were
obtained. These were repeated five times. Colon transit times were measured in 60 healthy
persons stratified by age, 30 by Sitzmarks and 30 by KolomarkTM.
RESULTS
The mean value of pixel of KolomarkTM was much lower than that of Sitzmarks.
The difference between background or beaker and KolomarkTM was much greater than that of
Sitzmarks . There was no significant difference between colon transit time studied by
Sitzmarks and KolomarkTM.
CONCLUSION
KolomarkTM, a more radio-opaque and cheaper marker than Sitzmarks will be
applied usefully for measuring colon transit time.