1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It's an important metric in medical practice, particularly for calculating drug dosages and medical indicators.

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 height and weight measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate medical indicators like cardiac index and chemotherapy dosages. It's more precise than body weight alone for determining proper drug doses.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be positive numbers for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple to calculate and has been validated against more complex methods, showing good accuracy.

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 with body size.

Q3: When is BSA used in medicine?
A: Commonly used for chemotherapy dosing, calculating cardiac index, and adjusting certain medication doses.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA doesn't account for body composition differences (muscle vs fat) and may not be ideal for very obese or very muscular individuals.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The calculator requires metric units (kg and cm) for accuracy. Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm) first.