PALO ALTO, Calif., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE:VAR) today announced that the company has received FDA 510(k) clearance for a brachytherapy solution that enables more accurate and flexible treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer. The new Varian Nasopharynx Applicator Set has been designed for the delivery of localized radiation therapy in the upper throat area. "This applicator offers an accurate and flexible way of achieving higher doses to nasopharyngeal tumors while delivering minimal dose to adjacent critical structures such as the brain stem," says William Hyatt, VP of Oncology Systems Operations and head of Varian's BrachyTherapy business unit. Suitable for use in the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal regions, the new applicator set is CT and MR compatible and will typically be used in combination with external beam radiotherapy. The set comprises two soft and transparent plastic ear, nose and throat mold probes with two very soft guidance tubes that can be fed through the nasal cavity without damaging the mucous membranes. It also features an expandable balloon for easy fixation regardless of variations in the patient's anatomy. "It's the only dual channel device of its type to incorporate an expandable balloon for optimal fixation and source placement," said Hyatt. Cancer of the nasopharynx is particularly prevalent among Asian populations. High dose rate brachytherapy is a recognized treatment option for this cancer, but has previously been handicapped by lack of a suitable treatment catheter. Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California is the world's leading manufacturer of integrated cancer therapy systems, which are treating thousands of patients per day. The company is also a premier supplier of X- ray tubes and flat-panel digital subsystems for imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 3,300 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and in its 55 sales and support offices around the world. In its most recent fiscal year ended October 1, 2004, Varian Medical Systems reported sales of $1.2 billion. Additional information is available on the company's investor relations web site at http://www.varian.com/. CONTACT: Spencer Sias, +1-650-424-5782, or spencer.sias@varian.com, or Neil Madle, +44 (0) 7786 526 068, or neil.madle@varian.com, both of Varian, Inc. SOURCE: Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Web site: http://www.varian.com/