The Evolving Landscape of Soft Embalming in Asia (2021–2025): A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis of Various Techniques and Research Applications

Abstract

Soft embalming is increasingly recognised as an alternative to conventional formalin-based cadaver preservation because it better preserves tissue flexibility, colour, texture, and handling characteristics important for anatomy education, procedural simulation, and surgical skills training. In Asia, techniques such as Thiel embalming, saturated salt solution, and Genelyn have attracted growing interest, but their regional distribution, technical variation, and applications have not been comprehensively synthesised. This study reviewed soft-embalming research in Asia from 2021 to 2025, focusing on preservation techniques and their roles in medical education, professional training, and research.

Methods: This systematic review and bibliometric analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches of PubMed and Web of Science identified 452 records (PubMed, n = 229; Web of Science, n = 223). After removal of 188 duplicates, 264 records underwent title and abstract screening, with 76 excluded. Of 188 reports sought for retrieval, 4 were not retrieved, leaving 184 full-text reports assessed for eligibility. Of these, 110 were excluded for not being related to soft embalming and/or the review objective (n = 40) or for being conducted outside Asia (n = 70). Citation screening identified 6 additional studies, resulting in 80 studies included in the final synthesis.

Results: Eighty studies published between January 2021 and November 2025 were included. Publication output increased from 11 studies in 2021 to 22 in 2025. Japan was the leading contributor, followed by Thailand and India, while East Asia was the largest contributing subregion. Thiel and modified Thiel embalming were the predominant methods. Simulation-based applications were most common, followed by anatomical and biomechanical or kinematic studies.

Conclusions: Soft-embalming research in Asia is expanding, particularly in simulation-oriented and educational applications, with Thiel-based methods predominating. However, the evidence remains geographically concentrated and methodologically heterogeneous, highlighting the need for greater standardisation, broader regional participation, and further comparative research.