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    <periodOfReport>2021-04-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001695593</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOMSEN MAGNUS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3100 HANSEN WAY, MS E327</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SVP, CAO, Corporate Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
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                <transactionShares>
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                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
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                <footnoteId id="F12"/>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Amount of securities beneficially owned at end of reporting period reflect 105 shares purchased on April 8, 2021 under the Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and a reduction of 2 shares as a result of a tax correction for the February 16, 2021 RSU vesting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Disposed of pursuant to merger agreement (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;) between issuer and Siemens Healthineers I GmbH and certain other parties in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, this option, which provided for vesting of one third on 2/8/2019, and the remaining shares in 24 equal installments over the 24 months following, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment representing the difference between $177.50 and the exercise price of each share of underlying common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, this option, which provided for vesting of one third on 2/14/2020, and the remaining shares in 24 equal installments over the 24 months following, were canceled in exchange for a cash award representing the difference between $177.50 and the exercise price of the option of the underlying common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, this option, which provided for vesting of one third on 2/13/2021, and the remaining shares in 24 equal installments over the 24 months following, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment representing the difference between $177.50 and the exercise price of each share of underlying common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of VAR common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these restricted stock units, which provided for vesting in three equal annual installments beginning February 14, 2020, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per unvested share of underlying common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these restricted stock units, which provided for vesting in three equal annual installments beginning February 15, 2021, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per unvested share of underlying common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Each performance stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of VAR common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these performance stock units, which were granted November 15, 2018, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per share of underlying common stock and applicable performance conditions were deemed to be achieved at the target performance level.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these performance stock units, which were granted November 21, 2019, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per share of underlying common stock and applicable performance conditions were deemed to be achieved at the target performance level.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these restricted stock units, which provided for vesting in three equal annual installments beginning November 15, 2021, were cancelled in exchange for a cash award equal to $177.50 per unvested share of underlying common stock that will vest and pay out according to the same schedule.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Magnus Momsen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-04-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
