Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA): a bibliometric analysis of research trends and scientific collaboration

Aims: Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) has gained prominence as a minimally invasive thyroid surgery technique. Although the TOETVA literature has expanded substantially, no bibliometric study has comprehensively evaluated its structural, thematic, and collaborative characteristics. This study aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of TOETVA-related publications to describe the academic development of the field, identify influential contributors, highlight key sources, and assess international collaboration patterns. Methods: Publications related to TOETVA indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection were analyzed using bibliometric methods. Bibliometrix (R-based) and VOSviewer software were used to evaluate publication output, productive authors, countries, citation patterns, collaboration networks, and keyword co-occurrence and thematic structures. Results: The analysis demonstrated a rapid expansion of the TOETVA literature since 2016, with a marked increase in publication volume over the past five years. Thailand, China, the United States, and Turkiye were the most productive countries. Angkoon Anuwong, who originally described the technique, emerged as the most influential author, alongside researchers from multiple regions. Collaboration analyses revealed well-defined research networks centered around specific institutions, while international collaboration remained limited in some regions. Keyword analysis showed that “TOETVA,” “scarless thyroidectomy,” “minimally invasive surgery,” and “papillary thyroid carcinoma” were the most frequently used terms. Thematic mapping indicated a primary focus on technical aspects, complication management, and oncologic outcomes. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the TOETVA literature is rapidly evolving but remains concentrated around a limited number of countries and leading researchers. Identified thematic gaps may guide future research directions.