A bibliometric analysis of inflammation and thyroid carcinoma: research trends and future perspectives

Background and objectives: Thyroid carcinoma, one of the most prevalent endocrine malignancies, has witnessed a gradual increase in incidence in recent years. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis, progression, and prognosis of thyroid carcinoma, with a significant association between certain malignancies and chronic inflammatory processes. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of literature on inflammation and thyroid carcinoma over 24 years, aiming to identify trends and research dynamics. The findings are expected to deepen understanding of thyroid carcinoma mechanisms and guide new therapeutic strategies. Methods: We used the advanced search function of the Web of Science Core Collection to systematically screen and curate articles on inflammation and thyroid carcinoma published between 2000 and 2024. Using Microsoft Excel 2019, we analyzed and visualized publication volume and growth trends. For co-occurrence and clustering analysis of countries, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords, we employed VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the 'bibliometrix' package in R. Keyword visualization identified 10 major clusters, including sodium iodide symporter, total thyroidectomy, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, zoological gardens, endoscopic thyroidectomy, mixed cryoglobulinemia, fine needle aspiration, and clinical evaluation. The most frequent keywords were cancer, thyroid cancer, and inflammation. Results: . Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis shows that research on inflammation and thyroid carcinoma is a rapidly evolving field, marked by diverse themes and in-depth studies. Advances in technology and extensive research are expected to clarify how inflammation drives thyroid carcinoma initiation and progression. This deeper understanding will lead to new approaches in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of thyroid carcinoma.