Korean J Gastrointest Motil.  1999 Nov;5(2):136-139.

The Development of Kolomark(TM), A Korean Radio-opaque Marker for Measuring Colon Transit Time

• Kim JE
• Rhee PL
• Kim YH
• Sung IK
• Shim SG
• Son HJ
• Kim JJ
• Koh KC
• Paik SW
• Rhee JC
• Choi KW
• Lim HK
• Suh SW

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colon transit time is a useful method for assessing colonic motor function and classifying the type of idiopathic chronic constipation. Among various methods, a radio-opaque marker study is a simple, reproducible and economical method. The commonly used marker, Sitzmarks(R)(Konsyl Pharmaceuticals Inc. Texas) had limitations in its use due to expensiveness and difficulty in importation. We thought that a new domestic marker comparable to Sitzmarks(R) was necessary and we developed Kolomark (Korean colon marker)(TM). The radio-opaqueness of Kolomark(TM) was compared to that of Sitzmarks(R).
METHODS
In two 1000ml of beakers, 350ml of rice-gruel, several chicken-bones and ten rings of Sitzmarks(R) and Kolomark(TM) were mixed separately. Then, X-ray films of the two beakers were taken. The digital image file was analyzed by image(R), a medical image processing program, and the value of pixels were obtained. These were repeated five times.
RESULTS
The mean value of pixel of Kolomark(TM) was much lower than that of Sitzmarks(R). The difference between background or beaker and Kolomark(TM) was much greater than that of Sitzmarks.
CONCLUSION
Kolomark(TM), a Korean colon marker which is more radio-opaque and cheaper than Sitzmarks(R) is developed and further study is needed to prove its clinical usefulness.

Keyword

Colon transit time; Radio-opaque marker; Sitzmarks; Kolomark(TM)

MeSH Terms

Colon*
Constipation
X-Ray Film