The evolution of primary hyperparathyroidism publications and global productivity from past to present: A bibliometric analysis during 1980 to 2022

Temporal research trends in parathyroid surgery

BACKGROUND

Progress has been observed in the pathophysiology of calcium homeostasis, localization studies, and intraoperative adjuncts in parathyroid surgery. The aim of this study is to gain a comprehensive perspective on the research landscape of parathyroid surgery over time.

METHODS

A search of the Web of Science Core Collection was conducted to identify publications on parathyroid surgery from 1985 to 2024. Keywords were manually curated, and their frequencies were calculated based on the publication year.

RESULTS

Publications on secondary hyperparathyroidism have decreased in recent years, but those on calcimimetics, tertiary hyperparathyroidism, and parathyroid cancer have increased. Publications related to sestamibi scans have decreased, while research on four-dimensional computed tomography and positron emission tomography has increased. Research on fluorescence and ablation treatment has recently been on the rise. The citation count per publication was positively correlated with the number of contributing institutions.

CONCLUSION

We provide an overview of contemporary research themes and emerging topics related to parathyroid surgery. The endocrine surgery community could benefit from more inter-institutional partnerships to foster scientific progress.

Endocrinology application of molecular imaging: current role of PET/CT

BACKGROUND

In recent years, nuclear medicine imaging methods have proven to be of paramount importance in a wide variety of diseases, particularly in oncology, where they are crucial for assessing the extent of disease when conventional methods fall short. Moreover, nuclear imaging modalities are able to better characterize lesions using target agents related to specific pathways (e.g. glucose metabolism, cellular proliferation, amino acid transport, lipid metabolism, specific receptor ligands). The clinical presentation of endocrine diseases encompasses a broad spectrum of sign and symptoms. Moreover, endocrine tumors show varying degrees of aggressiveness from well differentiated and indolent to highly aggressive cancers, respectively.

RATIONALE

With the application of new medicinal radio-compounds and increasingly advanced tomographic imaging technology, the utility of Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) in the field of endocrine diseases is expanding.

AIM

This review aims to analyze and summarize the primary indications of PET/CT, providing a practical approach for clinicians. A comprehensive literature search on PubMed was conducted to provide an updated overview of the available evidence regarding the use of PET/CT in endocrinology. Within this review, we will discuss the applications of PET/CT, compare different radiopharmaceuticals and highlight the uptake mechanism, excluding neuroendocrine carcinomas from discussion.

CONCLUSIONS

PET/CT is a valuable tool in diagnosing and managing endocrine disorders due to its capacity to furnish both functional and anatomical information, facilitate early lesion detection, guide treatment decisions, and monitor treatment response. Its non-invasive nature and precision make it an integral component of modern endocrine healthcare. This review aims to provide physicians with a clear perspective on the role of PET/CT imaging, discussing its emerging opportunities and appropriateness of use in endocrinological diseases.