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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WFUMlXTcLq8wZY9OT32o+drrSK0c+AzV7NU/wsGl7jMFSOxTpNNgD/MdGh1T0Bjf
 I7FAL63J6Z4TKKXDLdktdw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001175949-04-000012.txt : 20040809
<SEC-HEADER>0001175949-04-000012.hdr.sgml : 20040809
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040809155040
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001175949-04-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040802
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040809

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEYERS DAVID P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001175949

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-100878
		FILM NUMBER:		04961312

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1534 NORTH DECATUR ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 202
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30307

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EZ EM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000727008
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				111999504
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0529

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		717 MAIN ST
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163338230
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000727008</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EZ EM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ezm</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001175949</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MEYERS DAVID P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ezem</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>687167</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Meyers' wife owns 121,849 shares of EZEM. Mr. Meyers disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.

This form was filed on 8-5-2004 but was rejected by the EDGAR system for technical reasons.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>david p meyers</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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