Bibliometric analysis of interventional radiology studies in PubMed-indexed literature from 1991 to 2020

To evaluate interventional radiology (IR) research over time based on the study type of published articles and the visibility of articles to non-radiology clinicians.

We performed a search of all PubMed-indexed literature from January 1, 1991, through November 11, 2020, for clinical IR articles classified by their study type, categorized as: 1) meta-analyses/systematic reviews/practice guidelines; 2) randomized controlled trials; 3) non-randomized controlled trials; and 4) longitudinal/observational studies. Clinical IR articles were defined as those that met keyword criteria constructed from Society of Interventional Radiology procedure guides. Data were also collected on medical specialty journal categories that published IR-related articles.

When we examined the first vs. the last decade of our study period, the number of IR articles published increased across all study types: randomized controlled trials (374 to 2620; 601% change), longitudinal/observational studies (2324 to 12,447; 436%), meta-analyses/systematic reviews/practice guidelines (1179 to 6135; 420%), non-randomized controlled trials (471 to 2161; 359%). The journal categories with the highest mean percentage increase of IR articles across all study types were obstetrics and gynecology (659%), peripheral vascular disease (342%), and emergency medicine (221%). We found a decrease of IR articles published in surgery (-6.0%), pediatrics (-14%), and pulmonary (-21%) journals.

The number of IR articles grew quickly and at a similar rate compared with all PubMed-indexed articles and increased as a proportion of articles published in non-imaging specialty journals. This indicates greater visibility of IR studies for all clinicians and is encouraging towards the advancement of IR techniques.