Global Insights of Oral Submucous Fibrosis: Concerns About Betel Nut and Oral Cancer

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic progressive fibrosis of oral mucosa, with the possibility of eventually progressing to oral cancer, remaining unclear pathogenesis, and a lack of targeted therapies. This study aims to analyze current research progress from a bibliometric perspective to guide the way forward.

Documents in the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1999 to August 31, 2023 were thoroughly searched using a given query. After selection, years of publishing, countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords were analyzed using bibliometric software.

The bibliometric results of 1522 documents show that India and China were the most productive countries in this field. Central South University has published the most papers. The Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine and Oral Oncology were the leading journals. Betel nut, oral cancer, malignant transformation, and fibroblast were the main focuses during recent study periods. We also analyzed differences between studies in betel chewing and nonchewing areas. Notably, scholars pay more attention to the pathogenesis of OSF in the former, while the relationship between OSF and cancer is more concerning in the latter, such as in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Findings from this study provide an overview of the current research and reveal the future hotspot of the OSF research. It suggests that exploring the pathogenesis and mechanisms of malignant transformation in OSF will be a focal point in future research. Advancements in the prevention and treatment of OSF could significantly enhance patients' quality of life and reduce mortality associated with oral cancer.