Objectives: The quantitative matching between histological sections and microfocus computer tomography (micro-CT) images in the analysis of peri-implant bone tissues. Methods: Two screw-shaped titanium implants were inserted into each left and right femoral condyle of two adult female Saanen goats. After 6 weeks, the 8 implants and surrounding tissue were retrieved. These samples were adjusted on a holder, which served as a reference plane and a 3D micro-CT scan was taken with the Philips HOMX 161 microfocus X-ray system upgraded with the AEA Tomohawk (Oxon, UK) computer tomography facilities. Thereafter light microscopical sections were made parallel to the reference plane. Two specimens were used as pilot cases, for the remaining 6 specimens corresponding micro-CT slices and histological sections were segmented for bone by Q-Win® (Leica). Afterwards the binary images were matched in Xara X® (Xara Ltd). Colour detection occurred and the matching area was calculated. Results: After reconstruction 500 micro-CT slices were obtained per specimen with a voxel size of 24 µm. On average 26 histological sections per specimen were made, due to the thickness of the sawing blade (300 µm). The micro-CT images showed the clear appearance of bone trabeculae. At the end of the implant scatter was present between the screw threads of the implant. Filtering this scatter caused loss of the finest trabeculae and the segmenting threshold was chosen high enough to avoid this. For a total of 150 corresponding micro-CT and histological images of 6 specimens the average matching percentages are in the range of 85 and 90 % (Table 1). Conclusions: These results prove the quantitative correlation between histological sections and micro-CT analysis. This opens new opportunities in the field of in vitro bone-implant research. This study was granted by FWO-Vlaanderen 101/8.

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