Abstract
Background and purpose
Bibliometric profiling of specialty journals can provide insight into scientific trends, collaboration patterns, and the evolving focus of fields. We analyzed 3 decades of American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR) publications (1995-2024) to determine whether longitudinal bibliometric indicators of AJNR publications demonstrate measurable temporal trends and reflect changes in citation behavior, journal impact, and article characteristics over time.Materials and methods
All AJNR publications within the study period were retrieved and standardized. Title-based mining of curated keywords described annual frequencies, temporal dynamics, and exploratory correlation patterns. We performed a descriptive bibliometric ranking analysis and assessed authorship via total and first-author counts. Collaboration patterns were evaluated using descriptive coauthorship network statistics including degree, clustering coefficient, and centrality measures.Results
AJNR consistently remains in the first quartile for "Neurology (Clinical)" and "Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging" during the entire analyzed period. Publication volume exhibited long-cycle fluctuations, with a plateau in the mid-2000s and a modest decline after 2020. Cerebrovascular topics dominated title keywords, with temporal surges closely aligning with major trials and the uptake of mechanical thrombectomy. Keyword associations analysis demonstrated tight clustering of vascular and interventional items. Authorship distribution was highly skewed, with a small group of prolific contributors and a large number of occasional authors, and international participation expanded over time. Coauthorship networks were dense and highly clustered, consistent with mature multi-institutional collaboration.Conclusions
AJNR's bibliometric profile reflects the maturation of diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology, with topic surges tracking pivotal clinical evidence and technological adoption. Despite the concentration of output among a limited prolific groups, collaboration density and global engagement have increased steadily.