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

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.