Evolving trends in yttrium-90 radioembolization research: a comprehensive bibliometric study

Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization has become a key therapeutic option for liver malignancies and is expanding into extrahepatic applications. This study aims to provide a Y-90-focused, field-wide bibliometric map that links global research trends to practice-defining contexts and explicitly contrasts glass versus resin microspheres and primary versus metastatic liver disease.

The Web of Science Core Collection was queried for articles and reviews from 2005 to 12 July 2024. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix were employed to visualize annual output, co-authorship and institutional networks, reference co-citation backbones, and keyword clusters and bursts. Studies were narratively classified by microsphere type (glass vs resin) and disease context (hepatocellular carcinoma vs metastatic liver cancers).

The study analyzed 2,002 publications, revealing an annual growth rate of 8%. Scientific production and collaboration were concentrated in North America and Western Europe. The co-citation core was dominated by foundational hepatocellular carcinoma outcomes and international recommendations. In sub analyses, glass microsphere literature was clustered with hepatocellular carcinoma, and segmentectomy; resin microsphere literature was concentrated in colorectal liver metastases within randomized or combination regimens. Primary-disease corpora were shown to emphasize survival and transplant pathways, whereas metastatic corpora focused on local control within multimodality care.

This analysis underscores the significant growth and thematic shifts in Y-90 research, while highlighting gaps such as the need for randomized trials and long-term outcome studies. Addressing these gaps will advance Y-90 radioembolization and enhance patient care through innovation and collaboration.