-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 gVlzNrLgyrxtc/0Q38htgQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-11-006231.txt : 20110217
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-11-006231.hdr.sgml : 20110217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110217191812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-11-006231
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARTIN DAVID W JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217446

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07598
		FILM NUMBER:		11622246

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC
		STREET 2:		3100 HANSEN WAY M/S E-327
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000203527
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				942359345
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1001

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3100 HANSEN WAY
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304-1000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-424-5834

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3100 HANSEN WAY
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304-1000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VARIAN ASSOCIATES INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VARIAN DELAWARE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19761123
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000203527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VAR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217446</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARTIN DAVID W JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3100 HANSEN WAY, MAIL STOP E-327</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304-1030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1411</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1411</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6204</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>70.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-02-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Deferred Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of VAR common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Deferred Stock Units vest in four equal quarterly installments over a 12 month period beginning February 16, 2011.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person the earlier of three years from the grant date, or termination/retirement date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Stock option granted under the Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan, which complies with Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John W. Kuo, Attorney in Fact for David W. Martin Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----