Global trends in robot-assisted retroperitoneal tumor surgery: a bibliometric and visualized analysis

Robot-assisted retroperitoneal tumor resection has emerged as an important minimally invasive surgical approach; however, the overall research landscape and developmental trends in this field remain insufficiently characterized. This bibliometric study systematically evaluates research patterns using publications, which were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (SCI-Expanded) database from inception to December 31, 2025, limited to English-language articles and reviews. A total of 415 publications were included, and data were analyzed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and GraphPad Prism. Annual outputs exhibited consistent growth, particularly from 2019 onward, indicating growing scholarly attention. Research output was highest from the United States and China, while the most prominent institutions were in North America, with notable contributions from Asia and Europe. Co-cited reference analysis indicated that current research is largely based on comparative clinical studies and multicenter investigations, suggesting a transition toward evidence-based evaluation. Keyword analysis revealed that research hotspots focus mainly on surgical techniques, oncological indications, and perioperative outcomes, while recent trends highlight a growing focus on minimally invasive approaches, robotic surgical procedures, and single-port techniques. As a bibliometric analysis based on metadata, it does not assess study quality, clinical outcomes, or risk of bias; trends reflect research activity rather than validated clinical efficacy. Future investigations should employ rigorously designed multicenter trials, evaluate long-term outcomes, and incorporate patient-centered assessments to better determine the clinical impact of robot-assisted retroperitoneal tumor excision.