Robot-assisted biopsy a bibliometric analysis of global trends, hotspots, and emerging frontiers (2000-2025).

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Abstract

Robot-assisted biopsy techniques achieve precise minimally invasive sampling of deep-seated and anatomically complex lesions through stable robotic manipulation, intelligent path planning, and multimodal imaging fusion. These techniques have accumulated substantial evidence in urology, neurosurgery, and thoracic intervention. However, the field spans multiple organs and technical directions, and lacks a systematic, macroscopic depiction of its overall knowledge structure, evolutionary trajectory, and emerging frontiers. This study aims to systematically map global research trends, the distribution of core research actors, the evolution of the knowledge structure, and emerging frontier directions in robot-assisted biopsy via bibliometric methods, thereby providing a macro-level evidence map for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. Using the Web of Science Core Collection as the primary data source, we retrieved literature related to robot-assisted biopsy from 2000 to 2025, limited to English Articles and Reviews; an independent dataset was constructed from PubMed for semantic validation at the MeSH term level. Descriptive statistics, collaboration networks, co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, citation burst detection, and dual-map overlay analysis of journals were conducted using Bibliometrix, VOSviewer 1.6.20, CiteSpace 6.4.R1, and Scimago Graphica. A total of 2,336 publications were included, with an average annual growth rate of 16.27%. Research progressed through three phases: a slow start from 2000-2009, steady growth from 2010-2016, and accelerated expansion after 2017; publications since 2017 account for 70.85% of the total. The United States (826 publications, 35.4%) ranked first in both productivity and academic impact; China (380 publications, 16.3%) ranked second in output but had a lower citations-per-paper (14.4). Engineering and clinical medicine journals form a dual-core citation structure, with medical imaging journals positioned as interdisciplinary bridging hubs. Keyword analysis showed biopsy(618 occurrences) and medical robotics(612 occurrences) at the network core; prostate cancer, accuracy, and diagnosis constitute the traditional research mainline, while terms such as diagnostic yield, navigation, and artificial intelligence have become increasingly active in recent years. Citation burst analysis indicates a shift in research focus from early robotic system design (2006-2013) to clinical diagnostic paradigms (post-2017), with persistent citation bursts in recent years for pulmonary robotic bronchoscopy literature. MeSH term analysis of the independent PubMed validation set (1,531 publications) further confirmed main research lines including robotic technology, prostate tumors, image-guided biopsy, and pulmonary robotic intervention. Robot-assisted biopsy is transitioning from validation of technical feasibility toward creation of clinical value. Prostate biopsy represents the most mature clinical translation pathway; robot-assisted bronchoscopy is the one of the most rapidly growing emerging directions. AI-driven autonomous navigation and human-machine collaboration are reshaping the technological landscape of the field. Future efforts should emphasize multicenter comparative studies, standardized outcome measures, and health-economic evaluations to facilitate integration of robot-assisted biopsy into routine clinical practice.

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