American Shared Hospital Services Updates Progress in the Development of a Proton Therapy Center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital

SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES (AMEX:AMS), a leading provider of turnkey
technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services,
today shared a recent announcement regarding progress in the development of a
proton therapy center at Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical
Center. As previously announced, AMS and a leading radiation oncology group have
agreed to provide a proton beam radiation device manufactured by Still River
Systems for the Long Beach facility. The Still River device has not yet been
cleared by the FDA.

Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller
Children's Hospital Granted Approval for Proton Therapy Project

Proton Therapy Center Will Provide Southern California Cancer Patients Greater
Access to Advanced Treatment Options

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- September 29, 2009 -- The Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) at
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (LBMMC) and Miller Children's Hospital (MCH)
today announced it has been granted approval to proceed with the architecture
and engineering for its proton therapy center, becoming one of only 13 centers
in the country currently planning for a compact unit. The approval comes as a
result of approximately one year of planning, and having a proton therapy center
in Long Beach will provide Southern California patients with greater access to
this new state-of-the-art technology.

Funding for the $25 million project and the equipment, manufactured by the Still
Rivers Company, comes from capital and philanthropic hospital funds from both
the hospital's doctors as well as American Shared Hospital Services, which
provides turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation
therapy services. The installation of the proton unit demonstrates TCI's ongoing
commitment to bringing advanced medical treatments to cancer patients at both
the local and national level.

"At the Todd Cancer Institute, we're committed to providing advanced
state-of-the-art treatments that meet each patient's individual and unique
needs," said Diana Hendel, CEO at LBMMC/MCH. "Our investment in the proton
therapy center will offer the residents of Southern California, as well as
patients throughout the country, with a promising new treatment option to treat
difficult to reach cancers and improve health outcomes."

Proton therapy, used in both adults and children, is an advanced radiation
treatment that works by aiming energized ion particles (protons) right at the
targeted tumor. It is used to treat many forms of cancer; specifically in areas
in the central nervous system, chest, head and neck, eyes and prostate. Recent
studies have shown that proton therapy has a higher success rate and fewer
complications than traditional radiation therapy when the cancer is located in
difficult to reach areas, or when the damage to normal tissue creates a high
degree of discomfort during treatment.

Construction on the proton therapy center will begin 2010, and the hospital
expects to treat its first patient using the technology in 2012.

About Long Beach Memorial Medical Center:

Long Beach Memorial Medical Center is one of the nation's top-rated medical
centers and with Miller Children's Hospital, is the second largest
not-for-profit, community-based hospital west of the Mississippi. The 54-acre
campus houses 716 beds, employs more than 5,200 people and has more than 800
volunteers.

About Todd Cancer Institute:

The Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) is dedicated to the early diagnosis, research,
treatment and education of patients with cancer or serious blood disorders.
Through interdisciplinary treatment planning conferences, Todd Cancer Institute
specialists review new or difficult cases and develop treatment plans suited to
the specific needs of each patient. The Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) continues to
be at the forefront of cancer treatment with the da Vinci "S" TM robotic
surgical system, digital mammography and its state-of-the-art technology of
TomoTherapy, IMRT, Brachytherapy and Hyperthermia used at the institute's Leavey
Radiation Oncology Center. The gynecologic oncology program at TCI ranks in the
top four in the nation and TCI radiologists and pathologists are nationally
renowned for their expertise in accurate cancer diagnosis.

About AMS

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 quarters ended March 31,
2009, and June 30, 2009, and the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders held on May 28, 2009.

American Shared Hospital Services
Ernest A. Bates, M.D., 415-788-5300
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
e.bates@ashs.com
or
Berkman Associates
Neil Berkman, 310-826-5051
President
info@berkmanassociates.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009