Histomorphometric analysis of vertebral and iliac crest bone samples. A correlated study.

Iliac crest and corresponding second vertebral body specimens were obtained from 20 cadavers. Of these, ten underwent histopathologic evaluation and histomorphometry in a blind fashion followed by statistical evaluation of the results. In this study, the authors found the iliac crest biopsy specimens to be highly correlated and predictive of osteoid and resorptive parameters in the spine and less so for trabecular bone volume. Whereas the transileal bone biopsy is a useful tool in diagnosing and typing metabolic bone disease, its predictive value of bone volume at other sites in the skeleton requires further evaluation.