Dr. Nikhil Agrawal is Lead Consultant, GI-HPB Surgical Oncology, with over two decades of experience in the management of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts.
He is among the few surgeons in India whose practice is focused exclusively on gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers, with particular expertise in advanced robotic and laparoscopic cancer surgery. Over the years, he has managed the full spectrum of GI and HPB cancers, including advanced-stage disease, anatomically challenging tumours, and patients requiring complex multidisciplinary care.
After completing his training at BHU, SGPGI Lucknow, AIIMS New Delhi, and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea, he served as faculty at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi, a national referral centre for complex hepatobiliary diseases. He subsequently established the GI-HPB Oncology Program at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and later developed one of India's major robotic and minimally invasive GI-HPB cancer surgery programs at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket.
He currently serves in the GI-HPB Oncology Program at Apollo Hospitals, Delhi and Gurugram, with a focus on multidisciplinary cancer care that integrates advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery with evidence-based, ethical, and patient-centred treatment. He is also a robotic surgery proctor, training and mentoring surgeons in advanced robotic GI-HPB cancer surgery.
Dr. Agrawal believes that informed patients make better treatment decisions and places strong emphasis on helping patients and families understand their diagnosis and treatment options. His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and he is regularly invited as a speaker and faculty member at national and international conferences. Beyond technical excellence, he believes that successful cancer care requires sound judgment, honest communication, and a commitment to doing what is best for each patient.
Performed 1,500+ advanced minimally invasive and robotic GI-HPB cancer surgeries
Instrumental in establishing and expanding GI-HPB oncology programs at ILBS, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, and Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket
Helped build one of the country’s advanced robotic and laparoscopic GI-HPB cancer surgery programs
Certified robotic surgery proctor, mentoring surgeons in complex robotic GI–HPB oncologic procedures
Extensive academic contribution with multiple peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals, including The Lancet Oncology and Annals of Surgical Oncology
Active contributor to international collaborative research studies in gastrointestinal cancer surgery
Special interest
Robotic and laparoscopic surgery for GI and HPB cancers
Complex pancreatic surgery, including robotic Whipple procedures
Liver resections for primary and metastatic liver cancers
Advanced surgery for gallbladder and biliary tract cancers
Robotic gastrectomy for stomach cancers and GISTs
Minimally invasive esophagectomy (robotic and VATS)
Complex colorectal cancer surgery, including HIPEC for peritoneal malignancies
Management of borderline resectable and locally advanced GI-HPB tumours
Retroperitoneal tumour resections
Multidisciplinary surgical planning for high-risk and anatomically challenging cancers
Memberships
Member, Association of Surgeons of India (ASI)
Member, Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology (IASG)
Member, Indian Association of Surgical Oncology (IASO)
Member, International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association – Indian Chapter (IHPBA)
Member, International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists (IASGO)
Member, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), USA
Awards & Achievements
Executive committee Member, Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology
Over 50 pubmed indexed publications and several book chapters
Invited faculty for major GI-HPB national and international conferences
Advanced robotic surgery training - da Vinci X/Xi system (2024)
Fellowship in Laparoscopic Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea (2015)
Certificate course on pancreas organized by Pancreas India (2013)
Training Course, Operative Laparoscopy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India (2011)
Research & Publications
01
ASO Visual Abstract: Laparoscopic Management of Suspected Gallbladder Cancer: Risk Stratified Approach in Thick-Walled Gallbladder and Polyps: Optimizing Surgical Decision-Making with a Tailored Minimally Invasive Approach. Ann Surg Oncol. Published online September 1, 2025. doi:10.1245/s10434-025-18206-8
02
ASO Author Reflections: Stratified Precision: Risk-Guided Minimally Invasive Surgical Decision-Making in Thick-Walled Gallbladder and Gallbladder Polyps with Suspected Malignancy. Ann Surg Oncol. Published online August 18, 2025. doi:10.1245/s10434-025-18117-8
03
Laparoscopic Management of Suspected Gallbladder Cancer: Risk Stratified Approach in Thick-Walled Gallbladder and Polyps. Ann Surg Oncol. Published online July 31, 2025. doi:10.1245/s10434-025-17989-0
04
Diffusion weighted MRI and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio non-invasively predict infection in pancreatic necrosis: a pilot study. ANZ J Surg. 2025;95(3):363-369. doi:10.1111/ans.19301.
05
The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study. Colorectal Dis. Published online March 14, 2022. doi:10.1111/codi.16117
06
Effect of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on planned cancer surgery for 15 tumour types in 61 countries: an international, prospective, cohort study. Lancet Oncol. 2021;22(11):1507-1517. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00493-9
07
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with portal cavernoma without portal vein decompression. J Minim Access Surg. 2021 Jul-Sep;17(3):351-355. doi: 10.4103/jmas.JMAS_106_20.
08
Strategic approach to minimally invasive necrosectomy for necrotizing pancreatitis: technique, complications and predictors of outcome. ANZ J Surg. 2021;91(3):E104-E111.
09
Upfront pancreaticoduodenectomy in severely jaundiced patients: is it safe?. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci, 2019;26:524-533.
10
Inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver: Importance of a multimodal approach with the insistance of needle biopsy. Journal of Laboratory Physicians, 2019;11:361-368
11
Effect of Proximal Splenorenal Shunt on Intraoperative Portal Venous Pressure and Its Correlation with Clinical Outcomes. Indian Journal of Surgery, 2019; 81:338–343
12
Prognostic Factors and the Role of Adjuvant Treatment in Periampullary Carcinoma: a Single-Centre Experience of 95 Patients. J Gastrointest Canc (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-018-0058-7
13
Unusual presentation of fibrolamellar carcinoma: A rare case report. Indian Journal of Case Reports, 4(1) (2017, November 30).
14
Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) Findings in Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis: Retrospective Analysis of Pathologically Proven 30 Cases – Tertiary Care Experience. Pol J Radiol 2017; 82:327-332.
15
Ileostomy site approach for adhesiolysis and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a hostile abdomen: a novel technique. (Accepted in JMAS)
Imaging Paradigm of Cystic Lesions in Pancreas. JOP 2016;17(5):452-465.
18
Cystic Lymphangioma of Pancreas. Indian journal of surgical oncology 2016;7(1)106-109.
19
Hepatobiliary IgG4 Cholangiopathy Case Series and Literature Review. International journal of surgical pathology 2015;23:531-6.
20
Retrieval of an impacted foreign body in the oesophagus by combined endoscopic-surgical approach. Tropical gastroenterology: official journal of the Digestive Diseases Foundation 2014;35:185.
21
Asymptomatic Transhiatal Pancreatic Herniation after Oesophagectomy. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR 2014;8:ND24.
22
Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein stenting in a patient with benign non transplant post-operative portal vein stenosis: A case report. Indian J Radiol Imaging 2013;23:351.
23
Randomized Trial Comparing Side-to-Side Stapled and Hand-Sewn Esophagogastric Anastomosis in Neck. J Gastrointest Surg 2012;16:1287-95.
24
Spontaneous Common Bile Duct Perforation Presenting as Acute Abdomen. Indian Journal of Surgery. 2010;72(5):407-8.
25
Giant lymphatic cyst of omentum: a case report. Cases J. 2009;2:23.
26
Activated protein C resistance in deep venous thrombosis. Ann Vasc Surg. 2009 May-Jun;23(3):364-6.
27
Predictive Factors for Difficult Surgery in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Chronic Cholecystitis. The Internet Journal of Surgery. 2008;16(2).
28
Intestinal gangrene due to mesenteric vascular occlusion masquerading as strangulated inguinal hernia. Hernia. 2008 Apr;12(2):195-7.
29
Isolated splenic tuberculosis presenting with splenomegaly and pyrexia of unknown origin. ANZ J Surg. 2008 Apr;78(4):322-3.
30
Aggressive angiomyxoma presenting with huge abdominal lump: A case report. Cases J. 2008;1(1):131
Best Hospital Near me Chennai