A bibliometric analysis reveals a dynamic growth in the use of artificial intelligence in oral cancer research over three decades

TL;DR

This study shows how artificial intelligence has increasingly been used in oral cancer research over the past 30 years.

Contribution

The paper provides a bibliometric analysis of AI's role in oral cancer research, highlighting growth trends and key areas of focus.

Findings

AI applications in oral cancer research have shown dynamic growth over three decades.

Bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer identified significant trends in publications and citations.

Findings suggest increasing interest in integrating AI into oral oncology practices.

Abstract

Oral cancer (OC) remains a significant malignant neoplasm in both the developed and developing world. Artificial intelligence (AI) has had a significant impact on scientific disciplines, including oncology by transforming data analysis and predictive capabilities. Recent advancements in AI have enabled researchers to integrate and synthesize multidimensional datasets, infer patterns, and predict outcomes, ultimately enhancing shared decision-making between patients and clinicians. This bibliometric analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the application of AI in OC research over the last three decades. Our analysis of 351 articles retrieved from SCOPUS between 1998 and 2024 using VOSviewer highlights the dynamic growth of AI in OC research. The significant trends in publications and citations reflect the increasing interest and impact of this field. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, funding agencies, and researchers, guiding future efforts to integrate AI technologies into oral oncology practices.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12672-025-03293-6.

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