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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NPxRROXTKV3WHU5XfqyYUJQmXWpC8cz4vr3/ZQ4WAlbN3iGCy7zVyGdUHsCqQkYR
 yxJAqOLaSGNVoGNoRjoCWQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001217443-03-000001.txt : 20030603
<SEC-HEADER>0001217443-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602195854
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001217443-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030530
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030603

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHAIR JOSEPH B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217443

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07598
		FILM NUMBER:		03729001

	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:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3100 HANSEN WAY
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304-1000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6504934000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3050 HANSEN WAY
		STREET 2:		MAIL STOP E 224
		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>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000203527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VAR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217443</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PHAIR JOSEPH B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP Admin,Gen Counsel,Secretary</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>26198</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>13.3197</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>71688</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natu
reOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>26198</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>55</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>45490</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Soock Option</value></securityT
itle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.3197</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>26198</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-11-20</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-11-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>26198</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrI
ndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Amount of securities beneficially owned at end of reporting period reflect 386 shares directly held resulting from March 28, 2003 purchase under the Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  Reporting person also holds 5230 shares indirectly; 1830 and 3520 respectively by his two sons.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Stock option granted under the Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Omnibus Stock Plan which complies with Rule 16b-3.  The option vests in three equal installments over three years following the grant date which was 11/20/1997.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Joseph B Phair</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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