The diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism: a bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2024

Hyperthyroidism is a common condition associated with osteoporosis, heart disease, and increased mortality. However, bibliometric analyses on hyperthyroidism are scarce. This study aimed to characterize the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism through bibliometric analysis.

We retrieved the relevant literature on the diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism published from 2004 to 2024 from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. Bibliometric analysis was performed via CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

We identified 6,041 publications from 629 countries/regions. The annual number of related publications showed a steady increase over time. Among countries/regions, the United States led in publication volume, while the University of Pisa led among the contributing institutions. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism had the highest publication output, while Thyroid was the most frequently cited journal. This identified publications involving 28,157 authors, with Lazlo Hegedüs being the most prolific author. The most frequently cited articles were the "2016 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis" and the "2018 European Thyroid Association Guideline for the Management of Graves' Hyperthyroidism". In terms of keywords, "Graves' disease" and "guidelines" were the most frequently used terms in the field of hyperthyroidism diagnosis and treatment.

This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive analysis of publications on the diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism. Key research hotspots include management strategies for Graves' disease, international treatment guidelines and emerging areas such as immunotherapy for hyperthyroidism, which suggests the future directions, potential opportunities, and challenges in the field.