Hotspots and trends of perianal fistula of Crohn's disease: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND

Perianal fistula is a frequent and severe complication of Crohn disease (CD). With the rising incidence of perianal fistulas in CD (pfCD), research activity in this field has grown substantially. Although several reviews have addressed CD and pfCD, comprehensive analyses summarizing research trends and hotspots in pfCD remain limited.

METHOD

Relevant articles and reviews were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Citespace (version 6.3.1), Scimago Graphica (version 1.0.42), and VOSviewer (version 1.6.15) were used to systematically analyze data on publications, countries, institutions, authors, and keywords.

RESULTS

Visual analysis of 692 articles on pfCD from 2004 to 2024 revealed evolving trends and research foci in the field. From 2004 to 2015, annual publication output remained relatively stable; however, it increased markedly thereafter, reaching 65 articles in 2024. Institutions from Europe and North America have contributed substantially to the field. Recent studies have focused on mesenchymal stem cells therapy, anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment, surgical interventions, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic outcomes.

CONCLUSION

This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of developmental trends and emerging hotspots in pfCD research, offering valuable insights for future investigations.