Mapping the knowledge landscape of lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer: a bibliometric and collaboration network...

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a critical pathway for the spread of ovarian cancer, significantly influencing staging, treatment decisions, and patient prognosis. Despite increasing clinical attention to ovarian cancer LNM, no bibliometric study has summarized the evolution of this research area. This study uses bibliometric methods to analyze global research trends, core themes, and future directions in ovarian cancer LNM.

We retrieved and screened English-language publications on ovarian cancer LNM from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), covering the period from January 1, 2010, to May 31, 2025. The search utilized core subject headings related to ovarian cancer and lymphatic metastasis. Bibliometric analysis and visualization were conducted using tools such as VOSviewer and CiteSpace.

A total of 845 publications were identified, showing steady growth, peaking between 2017 and 2019. Collaboration network analysis revealed extensive international partnerships, with China being the central collaborative hub. China emerged as the leading contributor in publication volume. Key analyses identified influential institutions, core authors, and high-activity journals. Co-citation analysis further mapped the field's foundational knowledge clusters. The research focus evolved distinctly from surgical staging towards investigating molecular mechanisms, with the tumor immune microenvironment standing out as a current and central research focus.

Research on ovarian cancer LNM has substantially evolved, progressing from descriptive clinical assessments to molecular and personalized approaches. However, unresolved issues remain regarding the underlying mechanisms and optimal surgical management. Continued multidisciplinary research, focusing on molecular biology and individualized treatment strategies, represents a promising path forward.