The 100 Most Influential Papers on Yttrium-90 Transarterial Radioembolization for Primary and Secondary Liver Malignancies: A Bibliometric Analysis

Purpose: Bibliometric studies play a crucial role in helping researchers and funding agencies prioritize research areas and allocate resources, especially when healthcare resources are limited. Despite advances in treatment and prevention, the global burden of liver cancer is predicted to rise.{1} Transarterial radioembolization with Yttrium-90 (Y-90) is a proven and increasingly preferred approach for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.{2} Although bibliometric analyses are common in many fields, there is no comprehensive analysis of the top-cited articles on the use of Y-90 in liver cancer. To fill this gap, we conducted a citation analysis of the 100 most influential papers on the use of Y-90 in primary and secondary liver malignancies.

Materials and Methods: Scopus was selected as the database for this research. Two independent reviewers searched the database for relevant articles, which were ranked by their citation counts. A list of the top 100 original papers was compiled in descending order. The data were analyzed in terms of the number of publications, journal, country, author gender, funding, and citations per year. A separate list of the top 20 review articles was also prepared.

Results: The 100 top-cited original articles on the use of Y-90 in liver cancer were published between 1992 and 2021, with the highest number of articles (n = 40) published during the five-year period from 2006 to 2010. Citations for these articles ranged from 85 to 838, with a median of 178. The mean journal impact factor was 11.4 ± 12.5. Males accounted for the majority of first authorship positions, with approximately four out of every five first authors being male, while one out of five was female. The articles originated from 13 different countries, with the USA contributing nearly half (n = 47), followed by Germany (n = 12) and Australia (n = 8). The majority of the articles were published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (n = 14), while Hepatology, the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, and the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics each published 8 articles. Citations for the top 20 review articles ranged from 81 to 567, with a median of 174.5.

Conclusion: Our analysis reveals citation patterns for the most influential Y-90 studies in liver cancer, showcasing research quality, notable findings, and emerging trends. The concentration of studies in a handful of countries highlights the need for broader geographic representation. Encouraging international collaboration is vital to drive advancements in this field.