-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KKVZTwK+hu2bCK+ZJN2+pAZfKpzimJUmClozN56/GekKIYNJFjCpeekC+z0hLIcd
 HamuHZGyB/N2ucn3N4OH+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-005503.txt : 20030813
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-005503.hdr.sgml : 20030813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030813111939
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-005503
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030812
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030813

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PIHL DOUGLAS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212796

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22229
		FILM NUMBER:		03839532

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 GREEN OAK DR
		CITY:			MINNETONKA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55343

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VITAL IMAGES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912888
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				421321776
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3300 FERNBROOK LANE N
		STREET 2:		#200
		CITY:			PLYMOUTH
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55447-5341
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7638524100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3300 FERNBROOK LANE N
		STREET 2:		#200
		CITY:			PLYMOUTH
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55447-5341
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-08-12</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912888</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VITAL IMAGES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTAL</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212796</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PIHL DOUGLAS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3300 FERNBROOK LANE N</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLYMOUTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55447</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-08-12</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8000</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>20.0231</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>64569</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Mr. Pihl disclaims beneficial ownership of an additional 72,994 shares owned by his spouse.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Reporting person sold only the number of shares necessary to cover his tax liability resulting from the transactions reported on the Form 4 filed on August 5, 2003.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Douglas M Pihl</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-08-13</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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