Evidence for negative correlation between quantitative histological studies and microradiography of iliac crest bone and forearm osteodensitometry in elderly women with osteoporosis

Quantitative histomorphometric and microradiographic analysis of iliac crest bone biopsy specimens of 10 unselected and untreated postmenopausal women with osteoporosis was performed and the results were correlated with the values measured by osteodensitometry on the right forearm. No positive correlation between histomorphometry or microradiography and osteodensitometry was observed. Moreover, the data of various histomorphometric parameters and those of the bone mineral content measured by microradiography revealed a significant negative correlation when compared to the values obtained by osteodensitometry. Our results suggest, that evaluation of one skeletal site is not necessarily representative of the entire skeleton in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.