Research Trends and Visualization Analysis of Autoimmune Disease-Related Liver Cancer from 2004 to 2024: A Bibliometric Study

Background: Despite the rapid increase in scientific research output related to autoimmune disease-associated liver cancer (ADRLC) in recent years, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive and objective grasp of the cutting-edge progress and future research directions in this research field. Methods: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of ADRLC literature was conducted using Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, Scimago Graphica, CiteSpace, and Microsoft Office Excel (Version 2022). Data were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (2004–2024). Results: A total of 1,672 ADRLC papers published from 2004 to 2024 were included. The number of global publications increased steadily, peaking in 2023. The United States had the most publications and citations, followed closely by China and Japan. The WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY published the most articles. High-frequency keywords included "hepatocellular carcinom", "cancer", and "disease" six major research clusters were identified, with "natural history" having the strongest burst impact from 2004 to 2024. Recent trends included "immunotherapy" and "cancer" (2021–2024). Cutting-edge research directions were "immunotherapy" and "immune checkpoint inhibitors". Conclusion: This study reveals the research directions and trends of ADRLC. The research on ADRLC is increasing globally, with significant contributions from China and the United States. Strengthening research on pathogenesis, early prevention, and individualized treatment of ADRLC is needed. Immunotherapy shows great potential in treating ADRLC and has become a current research hotspot.