Correlations between Microcomputed Tomography and Bone Histomorphometry in Korean Young Females

The bone mass and microarchitecture are important determinants of bone strength, with microarchitectural deterioration being one of the specific changes associated with osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the results of microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and histomorphometry of biopsied specimens. A bone biopsy was performed on the iliac crest of 10 normal premenopausal Korean women. Measurements of the bone mineral density (BMD), micro-CT, and bone histomorphometry were performed. The bone volume, as determined by both micro-CT and histomorphometry, was significantly correlated (r=0.88, p < 0.01). The osteoid surface was correlated with both the bone volume (r=0.84, p < 0.01) and the structure model index (SMI) (r= -0.89, p < 0.01) measured by micro-CT. The SMI was correlated with both the bone volume (r=-0.85, p < 0.01) and the total hip BMD (r=-0.65, p < 0.05). In conclusion, some, but not all of the parameters of the micro-CT, were well correlated with the bone histomorphometric results. Micro-CT and histomorphometry appear to be complementary techniques in the study of bone microarchitecture.