Ultrasound in medicine from 2014 to 2024: A bibliometric review

BACKGROUND: The unique physical properties of ultrasound technology have led to its increasing recognition in recent years, rendering it an indispensable component in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions. The aim of this study is to investigate the current research status, focal areas, and frontiers of ultrasound technology in the field of medical applications. METHODS: The Web of Science core collection database was interrogated to retrieve relevant data. Biometric analysis employing CiteSpace and VOSviewer software tools was performed to produce comprehensive visualizations depicting authorship patterns, geographic distribution of research contributions, institutional affiliations, journal publications as well as key article themes. RESULTS: The analysis examined 2459 articles and revealed a substantial increase in the number of publications and citations, indicating a heightened level of research activity and influence. Dietrich CF leads in publications, significantly advancing the field. The research output of China ranks among the global leaders, while Harvard University emerges as the most prolific institution, making substantial contributions to high-quality research, particularly in the domains of artificial intelligence, deep learning, and ultrasound technologies. The emerging fields of ultrasound stimulation and drug delivery are garnering increasing attention and hold the potential to become significant areas of scholarly investigation. CONCLUSION: By employing bibliometric methodologies, this study has effectively identified the prominent areas of investigation and dynamic patterns in ultrasound research within the medical field from diverse perspectives. Consequently, it provides an invaluable frame of reference for guiding future research endeavors and facilitating evidence-based scientific decision-making.