Frontier and Hot Topics in Acupuncture‐Assisted Radiotherapy: Based on VOSviewer and CiteSpace

Objective This study conducts a visual analysis of Chinese and English literature on acupuncture‐assisted radiotherapy, aimed at identifying key research hotspots and emerging trends to inform future research priorities and optimize clinical translation. Methods Literature on acupuncture‐assisted radiotherapy was retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WoS) databases over the past 2 decades. Using VOSviewer and CiteSpace, the study analyzed publication volume, core authors, institutional collaboration, and journal distribution, as well as keyword co‐occurrence, clustering, and timeline analyses. Results Chinese literature primarily addresses the management of adverse reactions following radiotherapy in cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, whereas English literature focuses on radiotherapy‐induced xerostomia and its biological mechanisms. Our analysis of publication trends indicates that both Chinese and English literature have shifted from single efficacy evaluations to broader examinations of quality‐of‐life improvements and rehabilitation. Notably, Chinese research institutions exhibit domestically focused collaboration, whereas English‐language publications are more frequently disseminated in journals with higher JCR quartiles in 2024, with one Q1 and three Q2 journals among the top WoS outlets. These patterns suggest greater international visibility, although study designs remain heterogeneous across both corpora. Keyword clustering analyses highlight that English literature explores molecular pathways underlying radiotherapy‐related adverse reactions, while Chinese literature emphasizes clinical applications and efficacy evaluations of acupuncture. Conclusion Bibliometric trends underscore acupuncture‐assisted radiotherapy’s rising role in oncology, with Chinese literature prioritizing clinical applications for adverse reactions and English emphasizing mechanistic insights into xerostomia. To advance the field, prioritizing multinational RCTs integrates omics technologies for mechanism validation, standardizing protocols, and enhancing cross‐cultural collaborations to optimize global patient outcomes.