Abstract
PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) plays a key role in the progression of esophageal cancer (EC), yet few studies have comprehensively explored research trends on this topic. To fill this gap, this study analyzes global research developments, hotspots, and collaborations related to MetS and EC. METHODS: A total of 1008 publications from 1995 to 2024 were analyzed using bibliometric tools like VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package 'bibliometrix', drawing from the Web of Science Core Collection. RESULTS: The analysis includes contributions from 5,183 researchers at 1500 institutions across 85 countries, with publications appearing in 411 journals. The United States, China, and the United Kingdom are leading in both publication volume and research impact. Karolinska Institutet emerged as a prominent contributor to this body of work. Key journals include the Diseases of the Esophagus and Gastroenterology. Main areas cover metabolic factors, metabolic surgery, adipokines, lifestyle risk factors, cirrhosis & portal hypertension. Emerging trends focus on "metabolic syndrome and EC risk", "inflammation and adipokines", "bariatric surgery and EC prevention", "post-surgical outcomes", "early detection strategies". CONCLUSION: As the first comprehensive bibliometric study on MetS and EC, this research highlights metabolism-related factors driving EC progression. Future research should focus on clarifying MetS-EC mechanisms and developing prevention and treatment strategies.