The Ward A. Riley Ultrasound Center is focused on risk identification and vascular disease prevention at Wake Forest Baptist.

Our Center has studied cardiovascular disease for almost 3 decades, using the ultrasound tool of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT). Offline computer assisted reading of ultrasound images allows very precise measurements of the walls of the carotid artery in the neck. 

CIMT can be used to evaluate the effect of a treatment such as statin drugs, or the results can be compared with expected thickness based on age, ethnicity, and gender, to quantify your risk for cardiovascular disease. Results can also be used as a surrogate outcome measure for cardiovascular disease research trials. 

CIMT High Risk Screening

Our CIMT High Risk Screening program has used this safe, non-invasive ultrasound test since 2009 to identify people who are at high risk for heart attack and stroke.

For the screening report, CIMT measures are compared to huge research data sets that were created here at Wake Forest Baptist. Thousands of patients were followed for many years to determine if they developed vascular disease based on a variety of factors - including the thickness of their carotid artery walls. This data is used to compare a patient's carotid wall measurements to thousands of other patients who are the same gender, ethnicity and age in order to provide a patient's relative risk for stroke or cardiovascular disease. 

This screening exam is offered at no cost to employees and families with MedCost insurance who meet certain criteria.

Learn more about CIMT Screenings.

Research and Training

The Ward A. Riley Ultrasound Center has almost 30 years of experience as an ultrasound reading center for multi-center clinical trials. In addition to reading and scanning, the Center provides CIMT research training for sonographers, as well as a quality control and quality assurance program through re-certification and site visits.