Bibliometric Analysis of Pulmonary Fibrosis Imaging Research: Knowledge Graph Construction Based on the Web of Science Core Database

Abstract

Aim
To quantify publication trends, map international collaboration networks, and identify dominant and emerging research themes in
Pulmonary fibrosis(PF) imaging (2015–2024).
Methods
A structured Web of Science search combining PF- and imaging-related terms yielded 1,159 English-language original research
articles. Analyses employed CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica for trend assessment, keyword co-occurrence, citation
burst detection, and collaboration network visualization.
Results
Annual publication volume showed sustained linear growth (R² = 0.867). Researchers from 64 countries contributed; the United
States led in output (332 publications) and citation impact (9,821 citations), while China ranked second in volume (224
publications) with lower proportional citation impact. The Western Europe–North America axis showed the densest collaborative
ties. Keyword co-occurrence revealed close thematic links among idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, high-resolution computed
tomography (HRCT), usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), survival, and mortality. Citation burst analysis identified “deep learning”
as the strongest and most sustained burst (2021–2024), by which point it had shifted from exploratory method to established
domain. Three overlapping research phases emerged: diagnostic framework consolidation (2015–2018), computational computed
tomography (CT)-based phenotyping (2016–2022), and therapeutic expansion toward antifibrotics and progressive fibrosing
interstitial lung disease (2019– 2024).
Conclusion
PF imaging research has shifted from diagnostic consensus toward quantitative CT biomarkers and artificial intelligence(AI)driven
phenotyping, driven by the need to reduce interobserver variability and enable individualized risk stratification. Geographic
fragmentation and limited multicenter validation remain key barriers to AI generalizability. Future priorities include standardized
imaging protocols, prospective multicenter validation cohorts, and integration of AI-driven CT phenotyping with multi-omics and
circulating biomarkers for prognostic precision.