A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of the Current Status and Future Perspectives of Adrenal Cortical Adenoma

Adrenal cortical adenoma (ACA) is a tumor of the adrenal cortex with complex pathophysiological mechanisms often related to hormonal abnormalities such as aldosterone hypersecretion. This bibliometric overview of ACA research charts its growth, trends, and emerging themes. Publications on ACA were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection until June 1, 2025. VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used for co-occurrence, co-citation, and keyword burst analyses. We analyzed the temporal distribution and networks of countries, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords. A steady increase in the number of ACA publications was observed, with a peak from 2011 to 2015. The leading contributors were from the United States, Japan, and Italy, with significant contributions from institutions such as Tohoku University and the University of Würzburg. Co-citation analysis revealed a focus on histopathological classification, diagnosis, and the molecular mechanisms of ACA. The bibliometric analysis identified key trends in ACA research, such as the growing emphasis on genetic mechanisms and clinical guidelines. Interdisciplinary collaborations have enhanced the understanding of ACA.