Purpose: Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a relatively rare arthritic disease that significantly impacts patients’ physical health and mental well-being. To date, research on PVNS has shown initial success. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of literature on bibliometric analysis within the PVNS domain. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status and research focal points pertaining to PVNS through bibliometric and visualization analysis. METHODS: Articles relevant to PVNS research from the period 2000-2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science database, and bibliometric analyses were conducted using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software. RESULTS: This study abstracted a total of 1171 articles from 66 countries, including the United States, Brazil, and China. The overall trend in the number of published articles exhibited a phased increase. Leiden University in the Netherlands, Mayo Clinic in the United States, and Minas University in Brazil ranked at the top in the number of published articles and are significant PVNS research institutions. Among the 76 authors with more than 4 articles, Hans Gelderblom of Leiden University in the Netherlands published 15 articles and ranked at the top in terms of citations, representing a cornerstone of the PVNS research field. Major topics of previous PVNS research include giant cell tumors, tenosynovitis, and arthroscopy.The current research hotspots in PVNS are likely centered on the exploration of various tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of this condition. CONCLUSION:This study represents the first attempt to conduct research on PVNS using bibliometric methods, analyzing the current status of PVNS research over the past 23 years, identify prominent research trends, and offer guidance to scholars and clinicians engaged in PVNS research.