Bone morphology in primary hyperparathyroidism--a qualitative and quantitative study of 391 cases.

The changes of trabecular bone in primary hyperparathyroidism were studied in 391 iliac crest bone biopsies. In 60 unselected cases a histomorphometric analysis was performed. The classical osteoitis fibrosa is very rare in our material (4%). Only 49% of the cases developed specific endosteal fibrosis, 46% had increased remodelling surfaces and in 1% it was not possible to detect any difference in comparison to age-related controls. For diagnostic purposes the investigation is not helpful in nearly 50%.