Bibliometric analysis of 25 years of research and publications in neuro-oncology in Pakistan: Trends and future directions.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

Neoplastic lesions of the brain and spinal cord have been on a steady rise in low- and middle-income countries. In recent years, there has been an uprise in neuro-oncology encompassing surgery, oncology, radiology, infectious diseases, and artificial intelligence. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in this field is scarce. The objective of the study was to analyze neuro-oncology publications from Pakistan and quantify the contributions of Pakistani individuals and institutions.

METHODOLOGY: A bibliometric analysis of all neuro-oncology research conducted by Pakistani authors or institutions over the last 25 years (2000-2024) was performed using PubMed Central. All relevant case reports, case series, original articles, and review articles were included. The studies conducted in non-Pakistani institutions and collaborative studies were excluded. The data were stratified according to predefined keywords. A total of 210 articles were included in the final analysis.

RESULTS

Among provinces, Sindh contributed the most publications 66.67%(152), followed by Punjab 16.67%(38). Aga Khan University leads from the front with 132 publications. Publications ranged from original articles (37.4%) to review articles (31.1%). Gliomas were among the most common tumours discussed (25.8%). The Journal of Pakistan Medical Association was the most significant contributor (34.7%), followed by Surgical Neurology International (7.14%). Maximum number of studies (53) were published in the year 2024.

CONCLUSION

An exponential rise in publications in the year 2024 compared to previous years signifies the growing perception of neuro-oncology. However, the dominance of a single institution underscores the need for broader research development across Pakistan.