AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES REPORTS 2009 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS San Francisco, CA

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES

REPORTS 2009 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

San Francisco, CA, August 4, 2009 AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES (NYSE AMEX:AMS), a leading

provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services,

today announced financial results for the second quarter and first six months of 2009.

Second Quarter Results

For the three months ended June 30, 2009, revenue decreased to $4,583,000 compared to $5,102,000

for the second quarter of 2008, but increased when compared to revenue of $4,167,000 reported for

the first quarter of 2009. Net income for the second quarter of 2009 was $26,000, or $0.01 per

diluted share, which included transaction costs of $123,000 ($63,000 on an after-tax basis, or

($0.01) per share) incurred during the quarter. This compares to net income of $213,000, or $0.04

per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2008. For the first quarter of 2009, the Company

recorded a net loss of $94,000, or ($0.02) per share, which included transaction costs of $197,000

($99,000 on an after-tax basis, or ($0.02) per share) incurred during the quarter.

We returned to profitability in the second quarter despite the transaction costs, which are now

behind us, and patient volume and revenue increased sequentially, said Chairman and Chief

Executive Officer Ernest A. Bates, M.D. He said that the year-over-year decrease in revenue was

primarily attributable to lower patient volume at one Gamma Knife center, and downtime associated

with the upgrade of another center to the Leksell Gamma Knife PerfexionTM

system that was completed in April. We expect patient volumes to continue to improve in the

year s second half, Bates said.

As previously disclosed, earlier this year the Company engaged in discussions concerning the

possible sale of its 81% interest in GKF, the operating subsidiary for the Company s Gamma Knife

business. These discussions were terminated on May 28, 2009. Under applicable accounting rules,

the Company is required to expense the legal, accounting, investment banking and other costs

incurred for these activities, which are classified separately as transaction costs.

Cash flow, as measured by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA),

was $2,231,000 for the second quarter and $4,140,000 for the first six months of 2009, compared to

EBITDA of $2,657,000 for the second quarter and $5,025,000 for the first six months of 2008.

At June 30, 2009, AMS reported cash, cash equivalents and short and long-term securities of

$9,861,000. This compares to cash, cash equivalents and short and long-term securities of

$10,286,000 at December 31, 2008. Shareholders equity at June 30, 2009 was $22,972,000, or $4.92

per outstanding share. This compares to shareholders equity at December 31, 2008 of $22,938,000,

or $4.87 per outstanding share.

The Company repurchased 22,505 of its common shares during the second quarter of 2009 for an

average purchase price of $2.13 per share. The number of common shares outstanding at June 30,

2009 was 4,669,933 compared to 4,712,183 at December 31, 2008.

For the six months ended June 30, 2009, revenue decreased to $8,750,000 compared to $9,827,000 for

the first six months of 2008. The net loss for this year s first half was $68,000, or ($0.01) per

share, which included transaction costs of $320,000 ($163,000 on an after-tax basis, or ($0.03) per

share). This compares to net income for the first half of 2008 of $369,000, or $0.07 per diluted

During the second quarter, AMS entered into a contract to supply a Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion

system to Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut. This new Perfexion

system, the seventh placed by AMS to date, will replace an existing Gamma Knife supplied by AMS and

is expected to begin treating patients in the fourth quarter of 2009 or early 2010, pending regulatory approval.

We are steadily expanding our portfolio of next-generation devices for radiation oncology delivery

the heart of our long-term growth strategy while we continue generating profits and positive

cash flow from our legacy portfolio of radiosurgical and radiation therapy assets, Dr. Bates said.

He noted that AMS currently has in place more radiosurgical assets than any other company,

including five Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion systems, 14 Gamma Knife systems, and an IMRT system

and related equipment now treating patients at hospitals throughout the United States.

Dr. Bates continued, Since 1991, AMS creative financing solutions have enabled our clinical

partners to make the latest advances in radiation oncology available to patients at an affordable

price. Now we are applying this successful and time-tested business model to the next great growth

opportunity in radiation oncology proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT). The advantages of

proton therapy in the treatment of a variety of life-threatening cancers are becoming increasingly

evident from the clinical data. In the case of advanced prostate cancer, for example, radiation

oncologists generally agree that higher doses of radiation are associated with a lower risk of

biochemical failure and a higher level of local recurrence-free survival. The problem is that

high-dose conventional photon radiation (that is, non-proton) can result in unacceptable toxicity

to tissues near the prostate. High-dose proton therapy achieves the same cancer-free survival

rates without the toxicity.

AMS already has entered into contracts to place three Monarch 250 single-treatment-room PBRT

devices, and is negotiating to place additional systems. The Monarch 250 is an affordable, precise

and compact proton therapy system for cancer treatment under development by Still River Systems, in

which AMS owns an equity interest. AMS also is developing a three-treatment-room PBRT facility in

the San Francisco Bay area with proton therapy equipment to be provided by Varian Medical Systems.

Earnings Conference Call

American Shared has scheduled a conference call at 12:00 p.m. PDT (3:00 p.m. EDT) today. To

participate in the live call, dial (800) 559-1203 at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start

time. A simultaneous WebCast of the call may be accessed through the Company s website,

www.ashs.com, or through CCBN, www.earnings.com (individual investors) or

www.streetevents.com (institutional investors). A replay will be available for 30 days at

these same internet addresses, or by calling (888) 843-8996, pass code 25115785.

American Shared Hospital Services provides turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical

and radiation therapy services. AMS is the world leader in providing Gamma Knife radiosurgery

equipment, a non-invasive treatment for malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations

and trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain). The Company also offers the latest IGRT and IMRT systems,

as well as its proprietary Operating Room for the 21st Century concept. Through its

preferred stock investment in Still River Systems, AMS also plans to complement these services with

the Monarch 250TM proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) system, which has not yet been

approved by the FDA.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may be deemed to contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the

financial condition, results of operations and future plans of American Shared Hospital Services,

which involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks of the Gamma Knife

and radiation therapy businesses, the risks of developing The Operating Room for the 21st Century

program, and the risks of investing in a development-stage company, Still River Systems, Inc.,

without a proven product. Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial

condition, results of operations and future plans of American Shared Hospital Services is included

in the filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company s

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, and the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of

Shareholders held on May 28, 2009.

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES

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