RITA Medical Systems Announces First Quarter 2006 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call

April 13, 2006 at 12:00 AM EDT
FREMONT, Calif., April 13, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- RITA Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: RITA) today announced that it will release financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, after the market close on Tuesday, May 9, 2006. The Company will also host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the Company's first quarter results, outlook for the remainder of 2006, and current corporate developments. The dial-in number for the conference call is 800-240-5318 for domestic participants and 303-262-2130 for international participants. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available at www.ritamedical.com.

A taped replay of the conference call will be available beginning approximately one hour after the call's conclusion and will remain available for 7 days. It can be accessed by dialing 800-405-2236 for domestic callers and 303-590-3000 for international callers, both using the passcode 11058832#.

Any financial or other statistical information discussed during the call can be accessed from the home page of RITA's website at www.ritamedical.com. In addition, an online replay of the webcast will be available for one year immediately following the broadcast by accessing the same link. Webcast participants are encouraged to go to the site at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

About RITA Medical Systems, Inc.

RITA Medical Systems develops, manufactures and markets innovative products for cancer patients including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) systems for treating cancerous tumors as well as percutaneous vascular and spinal access systems. The Company's oncology product lines include implantable ports, some of which feature its proprietary Vortex® technology; tunneled central venous catheters; and safety infusion sets and peripherally inserted central catheters used primarily in cancer treatment protocols. The product line also includes the HABIB 4X resection device which coagulates a surgical resection plane and is designed to facilitate a fast dissection in order to minimize blood loss and blood transfusion during surgery. The proprietary RITA RFA system uses radiofrequency energy to heat tissue to a high enough temperature to ablate it or cause cell death. In March 2000, RITA became the first RFA Company to receive specific FDA clearance for unresectable liver lesions in addition to its previous general FDA clearance for the ablation of soft tissue. In October 2002, RITA again became the first company to receive specific FDA clearance, this time for the palliation of pain associated with metastatic lesions involving bone. The RITA Medical Systems website is at www.ritamedical.com.

The Company cautions the reader that the planned appearances of Company personnel, time and/or manner of the live teleconference, webcast and replays may change for administrative or other reasons outside the Company's control.

SOURCE RITA Medical Systems, Inc.

media, Steve DiMattia, +1-646-277-8706, or sdimattia@evcgroup.com, or investors, Doug Sherk, dsherk@evcgroup.com, or Jennifer Beugelmans, both at +1-415-896-6820, all of EVC Group, for RITA; or Stephen Pedroff, VP Marketing of RITA Medical Systems, Inc., +1-510-771-0400, or spedroff@ritamed.com

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