A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis of Global Trends and Research Frontiers on Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound in Liver Diseases

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map global research trends, thematic concentrations, and knowledge gaps in Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) applied to liver diseases. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus database on November 5, 2024, encompassing studies from 1983 to 2024. A total of 4711 articles were retrieved using controlled descriptors and Boolean operators targeting CEUS in hepatic contexts. Bibliometric mapping was performed using VOSviewer (v1.6.19) and Biblioshiny. Metrics included annual scientific output, citation analysis, author/institution productivity, keyword co-occurrence, and country collaborations. RESULTS: CEUS publications increased exponentially after 2000, peaking in 2021 with 440 articles, and declining to 326 in 2024. China led in total publications (10 427), followed by Japan (5182), while Italy had the highest citation count (12 770). Hepatocellular carcinoma was the most recurrent keyword (872 mentions), followed by "liver" (464), "MRI" (178), and "AI" (29), indicating a shift toward multimodal and computational imaging. Clustering analyses identified four major thematic areas: oncologic applications, ablation techniques, microbubble innovation, and AI integration. CONCLUSION: This is the first large-scale bibliometric analysis focused exclusively on CEUS in liver diseases. The findings highlight CEUS as a mature yet dynamic research field, with emerging emphasis on precision imaging and AI. Despite a recent decline in publication volume, scientific impact remains substantial. STUDY IMPLICATIONS: These findings reinforce the clinical relevance of CEUS in liver imaging and support future research integrating standardized reporting and advanced analytic approaches to further enhance diagnostic accuracy and clinical translation.