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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: April 17, 2013
Levothyroxin inhibits heterotopic ossification: an experimental study in rabbits
Hamid Namazi1, Kamran Mozaffarian
1Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Namazih@sums.ac.ir
Background:
Heterotopic ossification is a common complication of surgery or trauma.
Objective:
To investigate the efficacy of levothyroxin in inhibition of heterotopic ossification.
Methods:
Heterotopic ossification was induced in 36 rabbits in three identical groups by injecting 2 mL of bone marrow in right thigh. To prevent heterotopic ossification, levothyroxin (20 microg/kg) was administered orally daily for 4 weeks to two groups of adult rabbits: group A (preload)--starting 1 week preceding bone marrow injection; group B--started on day of injection; and group C--control group (no levothyroxin) in a rabbit model. After 5 weeks the rabbits were evaluated by radiographs for evidence of ossification. At the end of the study histologic samples were taken from all the thighs.
Results:
Imaging and histologic studies showed, with statistical significance, almost complete prevention of heterotopic ossification in group A (preload) and a marked decrease in group B, when compared with the controls.
Conclusions:
Levothyroxin demonstrated efficacy in preventing heterotopic ossification.
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