Global research trends in interventional bronchoscopy: a bibliometric analysis of publications from 2005 to 2025

Abstract Background The field of interventional bronchoscopy (IB) has experienced rapid advancements over the past two decades, evolving from a predominantly diagnostic modality into a highly technological specialty encompassing use of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB), robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB), transbronchial cryobiopsy, airway stenting, and image-guided interventions. Although there have been emerging advancements in the practice of IB, no global research studies have comprehensively evaluated trends in the field. Objective To analyze the global scientific output, collaboration patterns, influential contributors, and thematic evolution of IB research from 2005 to 2025. Methods The bibliometric analysis was performed using Scopus database. Studies related to IB published from January 2005 to December 2025 were identified using predefined search strategy. Records were identified using the predefined search terms. The dataset was then cleaned by removing similar but non-relevant terms, and eligibility was restricted to research articles and conference papers, with review articles, book chapters, and other document types excluded. No language restriction was applied. Data were analyzed using the Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny packages in R. Results A total of 18,019 records were identified, of which 652 eligible publications were included, comprising 609 original research articles and 43 conference papers, with no language restriction. Publication output increased markedly after 2020. Zaroulidis P was the most productive author, while the United States, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom were among the leading contributing countries, with Nagoya University as the most productive institution. Highly cited studies mainly focused on airway stents and tracheal prostheses, bronchoscopic lung volume reduction, diagnostic and image-guided bronchoscopy, and procedural sedation and safety. More recent highly cited studies increasingly addressed robotic, computational, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted bronchoscopy. Randomized and comparative clinical trials are relatively limited but included EBUS-TBNA and ENB for diagnostic strategies, bronchoscopic lung volume reduction, airway stenting, hybrid EBUS, radial EBUS, and AI-assisted bronchoscopy. Research themes progressively shifted from diagnostic and imaging applications toward therapeutic, navigational, robotic, bioengineering, and AI-enabled approaches. Conclusions In conclusion, IB research has transitioned from predominantly diagnostic and imaging-based techniques (EBUS-TBNA and navigational bronchoscopy), toward therapeutic, robotic, image-guided, bioengineering, and AI-assisted interventions. Emerging bioengineering, and AI-assisted technologies hold promise for IB but require clinical validation.