SynthesisFrontiers in medicine2026
Analysis of research hotspots and trends in epididymitis from 2014 to 2025: a visual analysis based on bibliometrics and scientific graphs from multiple databases.
Synthesis in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
17 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Epididymitis is a common urogenital infection in adult men caused by sexually transmitted pathogens, urinary tract infections, trauma, or autoimmune mechanisms, with etiologies varying by age. In addition to severe pain and reduced quality of life, it may result in complications such as abscess formation, testicular atrophy, and infertility. Despite its clinical significance, comprehensive analyses of research trends remain limited. Bibliometric and knowledge-mapping approaches can provide quantitative insights into the field's development and hotspots. Methods: Using the Web of Science Core Collection and the PubMed Database, we retrieved literature related to epididymitis published from January 1, 2014, to September 10, 2025. Bibliometric analyses of publication volume, journals, authors, institutions, countries, and keywords were conducted using the Bibliometrix R package (v5.1.1), VOSviewer (v1.6.20), and CiteSpace (v6.4. R2). Scientific knowledge maps were generated to identify research hotspots and developmental trends in epididymitis. Results: A total of 497 publications from 2,887 authors across 955 institutions in 67 countries were analyzed. Annual output remained stable at 30-50 articles since 2014. Andrologia was the most influential journal, and Pilatz Adrian was the leading author. China produced the most publications, the United States had the highest total citations, and Germany showed the highest average citation impact and strongest international collaboration. Justus Liebig University Giessen ranked first among institutions. Research trends have shifted from clinical diagnosis toward pathogenic and immunological mechanisms. Human studies focus on clinical features and treatment outcomes, whereas animal studies emphasize immunoinflammatory mechanisms and reproductive impacts. Conclusion: Research on epididymitis is advancing from clinical observation toward molecular immunology and precision therapy. Future studies should further focus on sexually transmitted pathogens, the immunopathological mechanisms of epididymitis, and the relationship between chronic inflammation and male infertility.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.