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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 S/T25zChcajdeRSK4lilNWeu5HXD52g2RmdDB1wIbbkZ70SjZ8E2AXceN3kafkgq
 m102v3Ia1SRShoyZoDPZMQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001203555-04-000003.txt : 20041202
<SEC-HEADER>0001203555-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20041202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041202141025
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001203555-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHROMAVISION MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001038223
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				752649072
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		33171 PASEO CORVEZA
		CITY:			SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92675
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9494433355

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARZA KAREN K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227579

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22677
		FILM NUMBER:		041180072

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		33171 PASEO CERVEZA
		CITY:			SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92675
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8884433310
</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>2004-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001038223</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHROMAVISION MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cvsn</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227579</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARZA KAREN K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>33171 PASEO CERVEZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92675</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Marketing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-11-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock options begin vesting one month after the grant date and vest monthly thereafter in equal increments.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tammy Duong</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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