A person with biliary colic has pain in the right upper abdomen that is caused by the blockage of bile from the gallbladder. Biliary colic pain may be steady or intermittent and is often severe. Symptoms may be triggered by eating a meal that is high in fat.

The underlying cause for biliary colic is gallstones and is treated the same as gallbladder disease.

Medical terminology:

• Choledocholithiasis: gallstone trapped in the common bile duct
• Cholelithiasis: gallstone trapped in the cystic duct