NEW ORLEANS, LA - October 7, 2002 — Varian Medical Systems, Inc.,(NYSE:VAR) is launching a three-month special program to retrofit clinics using GammaMed™ afterloaders for brachytherapy with its BrachyVision™ treatment planning software. This program will enable GammaMed clinics to use BrachyVision's 3D image processing capabilities to guide placement of radiation sources and deliver doses more precisely. The discount offer follows Varian's recent acquisition of the GammaMed line of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy afterloaders from MDS Nordion. "This program will upgrade our GammaMed sites from 2-D to high-resolution, 3-D planning, giving clinicians a better view of the tumor and surrounding anatomy," said William Hyatt, vice president and general manager of Varian Medical Systems' brachytherapy business unit. "With this improved imaging processing capability, we hope to enable clinics to distribute radiation doses more precisely and thus improve outcomes for their patients." Beginning November 1 through the end of January 2003, about 300 existing GammaMed customers will be eligible to purchase Varian's BrachyVision treatment planning software at a special price. Varian will set up training sessions for personnel at GammaMed sites taking advantage of this offer. BrachyVision is a full function planning system for all brachytherapy treatments, designed to develop treatment plans for cancer of the cervix, lung, prostate, breast, and head and neck. BrachyVision works hand-in-hand with sophisticated imaging devices, such as CT, MRI, or ultrasound, to generate precise treatment plans based on 3-D images. The program rapidly generates optimal and individualized treatment plans that conform closely to patient anatomy. BrachyVision software relies on DICOM 3 to rapidly access diagnostic images or digitized scanner data from orthogonal, isocentric, or stereo shift films. It uses image fusion capabilities for improved anatomy recognition and can simultaneously display dose distribution and anatomical structures. It automates much of the data processing, image management, and dose analysis to ensure rapid and efficient plan development. BrachyVision also has a complete set of conformal plan development tools. BrachyVision offers significant advantages over the ABACUS™ and GammaDot™ planning systems that are currently installed at GammaMed sites. Neither provides for 3D image-based treatment planning (see illustration). BrachyVision is compatible with Varian Medical Systems' Eclipse™ treatment planning software for treatments that are combined with external beam radiotherapy. All of the company's brachytherapy products, including delivery systems, radioactive sources, applicators, and treatment planning software, are on display at the annual American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) meeting taking place here through October 9, 2002. About BrachyTherapy: Brachytherapy is the delivery of radiation therapy through the placement of one or more tiny radioactive sources in or around a cancerous tumor. The technique is designed to deliver a large dose of radiation to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue, often as a boost to external beam radiotherapy treatments or as a primary treatment for some disease sites. Illustration: The image above is a two-dimensional brachytherapy treatment planning image showing dose distribution and catheter placement, but no anatomical detail. BrachyVision treatment planning software can simultaneously display dose distributions, catheter locations, and anatomical detail in three dimensions (as in the images above). Note to editors: these photos are available electronically. Contact Meryl Ginsberg at 650-424-6444 or meryl.ginsberg@varian.com.