Background <p>Recent studies have demonstrated that the plasma level of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a highly effective, minimally invasive biomarker in patients with lung cancer. This study aimed to perform bibliometric analysis to systematically evaluate the development trends of ctDNA in lung cancer for future research.</p> Methods <p>All articles on the role of ctDNA for detecting lung cancer from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2022, were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database. Data analyses were performed using the R package Bibliometrix, VOS viewer 1.6.18, and online analysis in WoS.</p> Results <p>A total of 1122 publications were retrieved: 807 primary articles and 315 review articles. The annual publication volume exhibited a&#xa0;significant upward trajectory, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 48.3%. China had the highest article output (379 papers), whereas the citation rate of papers from the United States was the highest (20,239 citations). The journal “<i>Cancers</i>” had the highest number of publications. Wang J was the most prolific author (35 papers), whereas Diehn M was the most cited author (4460 citations). The five most frequent keywords were “lung cancer” (<i>n</i> = 237), “plasma” (<i>n</i> = 227), “acquired-resistance” (<i>n</i> = 207), “circulating tumor DNA” (<i>n</i> = 177), and “gefitinib” (<i>n</i> = 151).</p> Conclusion <p>This study provides a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the ctDNA landscape in lung cancer over the past decade. By identifying key research hotspots and evolutionary trends, our findings offer valuable insights for clinicians and researchers, highlighting the transition of ctDNA from experimental validation to critical translational applications in precision oncology.</p>