Abstract
PURPOSE: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare malignant tumor of the urinary tract. Understanding this complex condition requires insights from multiple disciplines, including urology, oncology, molecular biology, genetics, and immunology. The objective of this study was to identify research trends and emerging research hotspots in UTUC research by using bibliometric analysis. METHODS: UTUC publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) on 8 December 2024 and analyzed with VOSviewer and CiteSpace to assess trends, collaborations, and research hotspots, with emphasis on the top 50 citation bursts. RESULTS: This study analyzed 3,226 publications on UTUC from 1998 to 2024, revealing a consistent upward trend in both annual publication output and citation frequency. The United States emerged as the leading country in terms of publication volume, total citations, and international collaboration intensity. Among research institutions, the Medical University of Vienna published the highest number of publications, while the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center achieved the highest H-index. Meanwhile, Pierre and Marie Curie University led in average citations per publication. Shahrokh F. Shariat was identified as the most prolific author, excelling in both citation count and H-index. Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations ranked highest in publication volume, whereas European Urology demonstrated the strongest academic impact. Keyword analysis indicated shifting research hotspots over time, with growing interest in kidney-sparing surgery, biomarker, neo/adjuvant therapies, and multicenter clinical trials, signaling potential future directions for UTUC research. CONCLUSION: Our bibliometric analysis provides an overview of current UTUC research trends and emerging topics, which may help researchers identify areas for further investigation.