The use of intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) is growing rapidly in the field of education. In mathematics, adaptive and personalized scenarios mediated by these systems have been implemented to aid concept comprehension and skill development. This study presents a systematic review on the current status of the use of ITSs in mathematics education in higher education institutions (HEI). More specifically, it inquires about elements rarely addressed in reviews, such as the purposes, advantages, effectiveness, limitations, characteristics, and development and research methodologies in ITSs used for mathematics education. We analyzed 43 documents in 15 specialized and indexed journals in the years 2012-2022. In addition to providing a global overview of the implementation of ITSs in mathematics teaching and learning, we also present trends and opportunities for future research on building educational environments guided by these technologies.