Trends in focal therapy for localized prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis from 2014 to 2023

Abstract Focal therapy, a minimally invasive strategy for localized prostate cancer, has been widely employed in the targeted treatment of localized prostate cancer in recent years. We analyzed 1312 relevant papers from the last decade using Web of Science Core Collection data. Our analysis covered countries, institutions, journals, authors, keywords, and references to offer a multifaceted perspective on the development of this field. The U.S. led in publications, contributing over half of the top 10 institutions. Emberton, M from University College London was the most published and cited author. “EUROPEAN UROLOGY” was the top journal by impact factor in 2022. Analysis of references and keywords suggests the prevalence of brachytherapy-related research, while high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), cryotherapy, and irreversible electroporation (IRE) are emerging as new research focuses. Consequently, more high-quality evidence is necessary to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of these novel therapeutic methods.