1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It's used in many medical contexts including medication dosing, particularly for chemotherapy and other drugs where dosage is based on body size.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)

Explanation: The Mosteller formula provides a simple yet accurate way to estimate body surface area from weight and height measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is crucial for determining proper medication dosages, especially for drugs with narrow therapeutic indices like chemotherapy. It's also used to calculate cardiac index and other physiological measurements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is widely accepted as it's simple to calculate and has been validated against more complex methods.

Q2: What are typical BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women, but varies significantly with body size.

Q3: When is BSA used for dosing?
A: Primarily for chemotherapy, some antibiotics, and other drugs where body size significantly affects pharmacokinetics.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA dosing?
A: Yes, BSA doesn't account for body composition differences (muscle vs. fat) and may not be ideal for obese patients.

Q5: Should BSA be used for pediatric dosing?
A: Many pediatric medications are dosed by weight (mg/kg), but some specialized medications use BSA.