================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)  January 17, 2005

                          VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

              DELAWARE                   1-7598             94-2359345
    ----------------------------    ----------------    ------------------
    (State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File       (IRS Employer
          of Incorporation)              Number)        Identification No.)

            3100 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA                  94304-1030
       ----------------------------------------             ----------
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)             (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (650) 493-4000

                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

================================================================================



Item 8.01. Other Events.

        On January 17, 2005, the Company issued a press release regarding Varian
Medical Systems Acquires Sigma Micro Informatique Conseil. A copy of the press
release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

        (c)    Exhibits.

               99.1    Press Release dated January 17, 2005 regarding Varian
Medical Systems Acquires Sigma Micro Informatique Conseil.

                                        2


                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                         Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

                                         By:     /s/ JOSEPH B. PHAIR
                                                 -------------------------------
                                         Name:   Joseph B. Phair
                                         Title:  Vice President, Administration,
                                                 General Counsel and Secretary

Dated:  January 19, 2005

                                        3


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

 Number                                Exhibit
--------    --------------------------------------------------------------------
  99.1      Press Release dated January 17, 2005 regarding Varian Medical
            Systems Acquires Sigma Micro Informatique Conseil.

                                        4