Research productivity and trends in gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms in the early 21st century: a bibliometric and visualized analysis

Gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (gNENs) are rare but increasingly recognized tumors with heterogeneous biological behavior and diverse management strategies. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research on gNENs from 2000 to 2025, aiming to map research productivity, influential contributors, and emerging trends. A total of 452 publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection after rigorous screening. The annual number of publications demonstrated a significant quadratic growth pattern, reflecting the expanding academic interest in this field. China and the United States emerged as the most active contributors, with China leading in publication volume and the United States achieving the highest citation impact. At the institutional level, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the University of Liverpool were particularly influential. Core authors, including Sara Massironi, Ping Li, D. Mark Pritchard, and Francesco Panzuto, formed prominent research clusters, while key journals such as Gastric Cancer and World Journal of Gastroenterology were identified as central publication outlets. Reference and keyword analyses revealed major research hotspots, including epidemiology, clinical management, treatment strategies, and subtype-specific approaches to gastric neuroendocrine tumors and carcinomas. Emerging themes emphasize personalized management, the integration of multicenter real-world data, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies, particularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy. This study delineates the scientific landscape of gNEN research, providing valuable guidance for advancing clinical practice and fostering further international collaboration.