1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It's commonly used in medical practice, particularly for calculating chemotherapy dosages and other medications that need precise dosing 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 chemotherapy drugs, which often have narrow therapeutic windows and significant toxicity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

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 in medicine?
A: Primarily for chemotherapy dosing, but also for calculating cardiac index, renal clearance, and other physiological measurements.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA doesn't account for body composition (muscle vs fat) and may not be accurate for extremely obese or cachectic patients.

Q5: Should BSA be used for all drug dosing?
A: No, only for specific medications where BSA-based dosing has been clinically validated.