Biliary colic is the characteristic pain that occurs when a gallstone temporarily obstructs the cystic duct or the common bile duct, causing the gallbladder or duct to contract forcefully against the blockage. The pain is typically severe, located in the right upper quadrant or epigastric area, and often occurs after eating fatty meals. Ultrasound is the first-line imaging study for evaluating patients with suspected biliary colic and can usually identify gallstones within the gallbladder as echogenic foci with posterior acoustic shadowing. While biliary colic itself resolves when the stone moves, recurrent episodes often lead to cholecystectomy, and the condition can progress to acute cholecystitis if the stone remains lodged.
Sonography Term