A scientometric study on research trends and characteristics of lymph node metastasis in oral cancer

Authors

• Linjian Huang, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
• Xiaocui Tong, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hanzhou, Zhejiang, China
• Wei Liu, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaFollow
• Xinyu Zhang, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

Abstract

Background/purpose: Cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the most critical prognostic factor in oral cancer (OC) patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze the scientometric characteristics and research trends of LNM in OC.

Materials and methods: All the papers on LNM in OC were comprehensively retrieved from the Scopus database. The years of publication were divided into before 2016 and after 2016 in the analysis of research trends.

Results: There were 946 papers on LNM in OC, with total citations of 21,154 and the h index of 70. The trend of clinical aspect including lymph node excision, lymphadenectomy, and sentinel lymph node biopsy has changed to early cancer, extranodal extension, chemoradiotherapy, and distant metastasis after 2016. The trend of diagnostic aspect has highlighted depth of invasion, perineural invasion, deep learning, machine learning, nomogram, and diagnostic imaging by PET-CT, contrast enhancement, and radiomics. Moreover, the trend of laboratory investigation including immunoenzyme techniques, neoplasm proteins, and VEGF-C has changed to tumor microenvironment, tumor differentiation, and signal transduction after 2016. There have always been common keywords such as neck dissection, tongue tumor, metabolism, genetics, risk factor, tumor marker, cancer surgery, cisplatin, and cancer radiotherapy.

Conclusion: This scientometric study for the first time elucidated the current scenario and research trends of LNM in OC, particularly the comprehensive identification and recognition of the important research topics concerned

Recommended Citation

Huang, Linjian; Tong, Xiaocui; Liu, Wei; and Zhang, Xinyu (2026) "A scientometric study on research trends and characteristics of lymph node metastasis in oral cancer," Journal of Dental Sciences: Vol. 21: Iss. 4, Article 59.
Available at: https://jds.ads.org.tw/journal/vol21/iss4/59

Publication Date

2026

Received Date

June 3 2026

Accepted Date

June 5 2026

Final Revision Date

June 5 2026