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

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 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 13, 2004



                          BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
                          -----------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



   DELAWARE                          1-11083                    04-2695240
---------------                   -----------                  -------------
(State or other                   (Commission                  (IRS employer
 jurisdiction of                  file number)               identification no.)
 incorporation)



          ONE BOSTON SCIENTIFIC PLACE, NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS 01760-1537
          -------------------------------------------------- ----------
                (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip code)




       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (508) 650-8000




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


ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         On January 13, 2004, Boston Scientific Corporation (the "Company")
issued a press release announcing preliminary, unaudited sales results for the
fourth quarter and for the year ended December 31, 2003. A copy of the release
is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1.

         The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibit
attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of
any general incorporation language in such filing.


                                   SIGNATURES

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



                                BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION


Date:    January 13, 2004       By: /s/  Lawrence J. Knopf
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Lawrence J. Knopf
                                    Vice President and Assistant General Counsel