Application of Terahertz Technology in Oncology: A Bibliometric Study from 2001 to 2025

BACKGROUND: Terahertz technology demonstrates significant potential in the diagnosis and precise treatment of cancer, promising a new approach to oncological research. There is no bibliometric analysis concerning terahertz technology and cancer research at present. This study aims to systematically review the knowledge structure, and frontier trends in this field. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search for publications related to terahertz radiation and cancer in Web of Science database from 2001 to 2025. Bibliometric analysis was performed using visualization tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Origin, and the R package bibliometrix. RESULTS: A total of 774 publications were included in this study. Since 2001, the annual number of publications on terahertz technology and cancer research has continuously increased, with an average annual growth rate of 18.88%. China, India, and the United Kingdom ranked as the top three most productive countries. The Chinese Academy of Sciences was identified as the most productive institution in this field. Optics Express was the journal with the highest cumulative citation count. YAO JIANQUAN (China) and LIU LONGHAI (China) ranked highest in average citations per year among authors. The thematic map revealed that current research hotspots are focused on "terahertz", "design", and "sensor". Burst keywords detection indicated that "sensor", "design", and "metamaterial" have exhibited strong citation bursts and remain active in recent years. CONCLUSIONS: This bibliometric analysis provides an important reference for understanding the overall development of terahertz technology applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy. This study has identified potential research directions, offering valuable insights for scholars in this field.