<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2004-01-07</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000761237</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHOTOGEN TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PHGN</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001262296</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEFRANCO JACK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6175 S LUSK BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>Senior VP of IMCOR Division</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.25</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2004-06-19</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-06-19</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>170000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>170000</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.47</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2004-01-07</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>40000</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2005-01-07</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2014-01-07</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>40000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>210000</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">The Compensation Committee and the Issuer's Board approved grants of qualified options to the Reporting Person on the terms described in Table II.  The options vest in accordance and are in other aspects subject to stock option award agreements.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">On January 7, 2004, Mr. DeFranco was granted to acquire a total of 40,000 shares of common stock in Photogen Technologies, Inc; 10,000 vesting each year for a period of four years.  These options may terminate earlier under certain circumstances as set forth in Mr. DeFranco's award agreement.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Jack DeFranco</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

