The Top 100 Most Cited Articles on Epilepsy Surgery: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Literature

Epilepsy surgery has undergone significant evolution over the past century, driven by advances in neuroimaging, neurophysiology, and surgical technique. As the volume of published research continues to expand, identifying the most influential studies is essential to understanding the development and current landscape of this field. A comprehensive search of the Scopus database was performed in March 2022 using a detailed Boolean strategy to identify publications related to epilepsy surgery. Articles were ranked by citation count, and the 100 most cited were analyzed for bibliometric parameters including citation frequency, impact factor, year of publication, geographic origin, journal distribution, authorship, and thematic focus. Data was compiled and analyzed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States). The top 100 most cited articles accrued a total of 29,843 citations. Most were published between 1992 and 2001. The majority originated from the United States, with the most productive institutions being the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the Cleveland Clinic, and Mayo Clinic. Temporal lobe epilepsy and resective surgery dominated the literature, followed by studies on neuromodulation, pediatric epilepsy, and advances in imaging and localization. This bibliometric review identifies the landmark studies that have shaped modern epilepsy surgery and underscores the pivotal role of temporal lobe epilepsy research and the emergence of neuromodulatory therapies. These findings provide a historical and thematic overview of the field and highlight emerging trends toward minimally invasive surgical innovations.