[5] Other conditions that produce similar symptoms include appendicitis, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

It is usually described as sharp, crampy, dull or severe right upper quadrant pain, which may radiate to the right shoulder, or less commonly, behind the breastbone.

[7] The pain caused by biliary colic can become so extreme that sufferers may admit themselves to emergency rooms and hospitals to seek treatment.

[11] Episodes of biliary colic are generally intermittent, and sufferers may experience several weeks or months without an attack before experiencing it again.

Lab studies that should be ordered include a complete blood count, liver function tests and lipase.

[7] Complications from delayed surgery include pancreatitis, empyema, and perforation of the gallbladder, cholecystitis, cholangitis, and obstructive jaundice.

Acute episodes of biliary pain may be induced or exacerbated by certain foods, most commonly those high in fat.

[15] Cholesterol gallstone formation risk factors include age, female sex, family history, race,[7][16] pregnancy, parity, obesity, hormonal birth control, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, prolonged fasting, rapid weight loss, total parenteral nutrition, ileal disease and impaired gallbladder emptying.

[18] Complications from gallstone disease is 0.3% per year and therefore prophylactic cholecystectomy are rarely indicated unless part of a special population that includes porcelain gallbladder, individuals eligible for organ transplant, diabetics and those with sickle cell anemia.

There are many reasons for this choice, including no exposure to radiation, low cost, and availability in city, urban, and rural hospitals.

[20] Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) should be used only if lab tests suggest the existence of a gallstone in the bile duct.

[13] Initial management includes the relief of symptoms and correcting electrolyte and fluid imbalance that may occur with vomiting.

[6] The scientific basis to assess whether surgery outperformed other treatment was insufficient and better studies were needed as of a SBU report in 2017.

[27] The presence of gallstones, usually visualized by ultrasound, generally necessitates a surgical treatment (removal of the gall bladder, typically via laparoscopy).

[13] The Swedish agency SBU estimated in 2017 that increasing acute phase surgeries could free multiple in-hospital days per patient and would additionally spare pain and suffering in wait of receiving an operation.