The 100 most-cited articles in thyroid surgery from 1990 to 2023: a bibliometric analysis
Donglun Li1, Yue Hu2,3, Yingjun Zheng4
1Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Gland Surgery
|April 21, 2025
Summary
This bibliometric analysis identifies the 100 most-cited thyroid surgery articles. The USA leads research, with Harvard University and University System of Ohio publishing key works on thyroid cancer and fine-needle aspiration.
Area of Science:
- Bibliometrics
- Surgical Oncology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Current U.S. thyroid nodule guidelines lack comprehensive historical context.
- Understanding the evolution of thyroid surgery research is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and evaluate the 100 most-cited articles in thyroid surgery.
- To assess the impact of these seminal works on the field's modern history.
Main Methods:
- Bibliometric analysis of the Web of Science Core Collection database.
- VOSviewer used for visual analysis of countries, institutions, authors, and keywords.
- Inclusion criteria: top 100 cited articles in thyroid surgery (1990-2023).
Main Results:
- The USA dominated, contributing over half of the top 100 articles.
- Harvard University and University System of Ohio were leading institutions.
- Key research themes included thyroid carcinoma, fine-needle aspiration, and BRAF mutations.
Conclusions:
- The top 100 articles significantly influenced thyroid surgery.
- The USA is the most productive country in thyroid surgery research.
- Thyroid papillary carcinoma and fine-needle aspiration are current research hotspots.
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