Global research trends in robotic single-site and single-port gynecologic surgery: a bibliometric and visualization...

Robotic single-site and single-port gynecologic surgery has attracted increasing attention with the continued development of minimally invasive and robotic techniques, yet its overall research landscape has not been systematically characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the global publication landscape, knowledge structure, and evolving hotspots of this field using bibliometric and visualization methods. Publications related to robotic single-site and single-port gynecologic surgery were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on April 23, 2026. Only English-language articles and reviews published up to December 31, 2025 were included. A full dataset of 308 publications was used for the main bibliometric analysis, and a field-specific sensitivity dataset of 264 publications was constructed after manual eligibility assessment to evaluate the influence of broadly related background literature. Because the literature in the full dataset spanned earlier robotic single-site/R-LESS approaches and more recent dedicated single-port platforms such as the da Vinci SP system, the retrieved literature was interpreted as a related technical spectrum rather than a completely homogeneous surgical field. Overall publication output showed a progressive upward trend over time. The USA was the leading contributor in both publication volume and citation impact, while Italy, Korea, and China also showed notable research activity. Several high-output institutions and core author groups contributed substantially to the development of this literature. The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Journal of Robotic Surgery were among the most productive publication sources. Citation and co-citation analyses indicated that the knowledge base included both field-specific studies on robotic single-site/single-port gynecologic surgery and broader background literature on minimally invasive and robotic surgery. Keyword analysis suggested that research themes have shifted from early emphasis on feasibility, cervical cancer, lymphadenectomy, and surgical outcomes toward minimally invasive refinement and newer robotic platforms such as da Vinci SP. These findings provide an updated descriptive map of the publication landscape and thematic evolution of robotic single-site and single-port gynecologic surgery, while highlighting the need for standardized terminology, platform-specific evidence, and cautious interpretation of bibliometric trends.