Objective:

To analyze the literature on immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (CIP) and its diagnostic assessment using bibliometric methods.

Approach:

• Data Collection: Publications on CIP and diagnostic assessment were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and PubMed.
• Analysis Tools: Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Bibliometrix, and SCImago Graphica were used for bibliometric analysis.
• Dataset: 628 WoSCC records were included for bibliometric analysis, and 74 PubMed records were used for supplementary clinical-topic assessment.

Key Findings:

• CIP research increased significantly after 2015, with the highest output in 2023.
• China published the most papers, while the United States had the greatest citation impact.
• Research themes shifted from melanoma and T cells to diagnosis, imaging features, and biomarkers.
• Key clinical diagnostic themes included imaging features, bronchoalveolar lavage, and risk prediction.

Interpretation:

Research into CIP has evolved towards diagnostic assessment and personalized risk assessment, reflecting the clinical challenges in distinguishing CIP from other pulmonary complications.

Limitations:

• Existing evidence is scattered across multiple disciplines, complicating the understanding of research direction.
• Current studies may lack standardized diagnostic strategies linked to prognosis.

Conclusion:

Future research should focus on developing and validating standardized, multicenter diagnostic strategies for CIP, incorporating imaging findings, bronchoalveolar lavage, and predictive models.