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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 97idaj0ya/wyrbcZxAJ6kw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001258757-04-000002.txt : 20040514
<SEC-HEADER>0001258757-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040514
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040514162811
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001258757-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040514

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERN SETH F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258757

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-100878
		FILM NUMBER:		04808179

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		425 E 76TH ST #10A
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10021
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126391793
</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>2004-05-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258757</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STERN SETH F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>444 E. 75TH ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>APT. 16C</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10021</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>324431</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.0228</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>304431</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>The Reporting Person is a party to a certain Stockholders' Agreement dated as of July 15, 2002 by and among the stockholders listed on Exhibits A and B attached thereto (collectively, the &quot;Stockholders&quot;) and the issuer.  The Stockholders collectively own approximately 56% of the Common Stock.  If, by virtue of the Reporting Person's execution and delivery of the Stockholders Agreement on July 19, 2002, and the expected performance by the parties thereto of the agreements and covenants contained therein, the Reporting Person is deemed to constitute a &quot;group&quot; within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) with the other Stockholders, then the Reporting Person, as a member of the &quot;group,&quot; would be deemed to own beneficially all of the shares of Common Stock owned in the aggregate by the members of such group and would be a greater than 10% stockholder with respect to the Common Stock.  The Reporting Person expressly disclaims both membership in a &quot;group&quot; and benefici
al ownership of the shares of Common Stock owned by the other Stockholders.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Seth F. Stern</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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