Knowledge Mapping of Ultrasound-guided Thermal Ablation Combined with Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Bibliometric Analysis

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide and ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Confronting therapeutic limitations including chemoresistance, tumor recurrence and high financial burdens, the integration of ultrasound-guided thermal ablation with targeted immunotherapy demonstrates potential transformative paradigm. Utilizing bibliometric methodologies, this study systematically delineates the scientific landscape and evolutionary trajectory of this combined therapeutic approach for HCC. Methods Our study systematically reviewed the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded) database (2000 to 6 November 2024) to retrieve studies on ultrasound-guided thermal ablation combined with immunotherapy for HCC. Bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace and VOSviewer analyzed geographical distribution, institutional collaborations, journal contributions, author networks, references, and keyword dynamics. Analytical methods included timeline visualization, co-occurrence networks, and citation burst detection. Results A total of 931 publications (560 articles, 371 reviews) from 6,252 authors at 3,766 institutions worldwide were identified. These works were published in 341 journals and cited 4,522 references. Publications demonstrated a marked annual increase from 2000 to 2024, with China contributing 42.7% of total output, followed by the United States (n = 288) and Italy (n = 78). Sun Yat-sen University emerged as the most productive institution and Ping Liang authored the most papers (n = 13). Hepatology and Radiology ranked as top journals by impact factor and academic reputation. Keyword analysis revealed shifting research priorities, with current hotspots diverging significantly from prior decade trends. Conclusion This bibliometric analysis outlines two decades of progress in ultrasound-guided thermal ablation combined with immunotherapy for HCC, delineating key contributors (countries, institutions, authors) while highlighting needs for long-term efficacy studies and emerging research trajectories.