Global Research Trends in Radiotherapy for Gliomas: A Systematic Bibliometric Analysis

World Neurosurg. 2022 May:161:e355-e362. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.02.001. Epub 2022 Feb 5.

Abstract

Background: Gliomas are the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system. At the present time, radiotherapy (RT) is the cornerstone of therapeutic approaches, but the worldwide research trends in RT for gliomas in the world are unclear. This bibliometric analysis aimed to investigate trends in glioma RT research since 2011.

Methods: The Web of Science database was searched, and SigmaPlot 14.0 and VOSviewer software were used to analyze and visualize the trends.

Results: Bibliometric analysis of 5106 articles was conducted. While the number of publications per year was relatively steady, the number of citations grew exponentially from 356 in 2011 to 21,051 in 2020. Articles originated from 89 countries, with the majority from the United States. Journal of Neuro-Oncology and Texas A&M University were the journal and institution, respectively, with the highest number of publications. The articles mainly involved oncology, neurology, radiology, and surgery.

Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis found an increased focus on glioblastoma, survival, and chemotherapy in glioma RT research.

Keywords: Bibliometric analysis; Gliomas; Radiotherapy; Research trends.

MeSH terms

  • Bibliometrics
  • Glioblastoma*
  • Glioma* / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Radiation Oncology*
  • Radiology*