Periocular malignant tumors over the past 24 years: A bibliometric and altmetric study

ObjectiveTo assess the global research landscape of the top three most common periocular malignant tumors from 2000 to 2024: Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), and Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma (SGC). The study evaluates publication trends, leading authors and institutions, geographic distribution, and the impact of studies using citation and Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) metrics.MethodsA total of 558 relevant articles were identified from the Web of Science Core Collection after excluding irrelevant study areas. Keyword co-occurrence, co-authorship networks, and citation patterns were analyzed using VOSviewer. Correlation analyses were conducted between AAS, citation counts, and publication characteristics.ResultsBCC was the most frequently studied periocular tumor, with a publication peak in 2020 followed by a decline. SCC publications have gradually increased, particularly after 2020, while SGC remains underrepresented. The most active researchers include Dinesh Selva, Bita Esmaeli, and Seema Sen. Ophthalmology was the leading discipline across all tumor types, with dermatology contributing to BCC and pathology to SGC research. The USA led in publication output for SCC and BCC, while India was dominant in SGC studies. A negative correlation was found between AAS and time since publication, whereas AAS positively correlated with journal-related parameters.ConclusionThe relatively low volume of SGC-related publications may reflect its rarity and diagnostic complexity. This trend, along with the varying patterns of academic and altmetric impact across tumor types, suggests that future collaborative research and improved communication strategies could be beneficial in enhancing both scientific visibility and clinical understanding.