Which term best describes sudden pain in the biliary system?

Biliary colic refers specifically to the acute and often severe pain resulting from the spasm of the bile ducts, typically associated with gallstones obstructing bile flow. This pain often occurs suddenly and is often located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, radiating to the back or shoulder. Biliary colic is episodic, and the pain can last for a short duration, generally manifesting after meals, especially those high in fat, when gallbladder contractions are triggered to release bile for digestion.

Cholecystitis, on the other hand, is the inflammation of the gallbladder, which typically presents with more prolonged pain and may include additional symptoms such as fever and nausea due to infection or prolonged obstruction. Gastritis involves inflammation of the stomach lining, often characterized by upper abdominal discomfort and not necessarily sudden acute pain related to the biliary system. Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver, presenting with symptoms such as jaundice, fatigue, and abdominal pain, but it is not specific to the biliary system.

Thus, the term that best describes sudden pain specifically arising from issues within the biliary system is biliary colic.