In simple words: The doctor makes a cut outside the mouth to drain a pocket of pus, fluid-filled sac, or blood clot under the tongue.

This procedure involves an extraoral incision near the lower border of the mandible to access and drain an abscess, cyst, or hematoma in the sublingual space (under the tongue).The surgeon dissects through suprahyoid muscles to reach the affected area, performs drainage, and may place a drain and sutures the incision.

Example 1: A patient presents with a painful, swollen area under their tongue, diagnosed as a sublingual abscess. The surgeon performs an extraoral incision and drainage to alleviate the infection., A patient experiences a sublingual hematoma after trauma to the mouth. The surgeon uses code 41015 to describe the extraoral approach to drain the accumulated blood., A patient has a sublingual cyst causing discomfort and difficulty swallowing. The surgeon performs extraoral incision and drainage, followed by histopathological examination of the cystic contents.

* Preoperative and postoperative diagnosis.* Detailed description of the surgical procedure, including the location and size of the incision, the tissues dissected, and the method of drainage.* Documentation of any drains placed and their removal.* Pathological reports if applicable (for cysts or abscesses).* Anesthesia records.* Photographs of the affected area before and after the procedure (optional, but beneficial).

** This code is specific to the extraoral approach for sublingual lesions. Accurate anatomical localization and detailed procedural documentation are critical for proper coding and reimbursement.