1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the calculated surface area of the human body. It's an important measurement in medicine, particularly for determining medication dosages and medical indicators that are based on body size rather than just weight.

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 is one of the simplest and most commonly used methods for BSA calculation, providing a good balance between simplicity and accuracy.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate drug dosages for many medications, particularly chemotherapy drugs, where dosage based on body surface area helps minimize toxicity while maintaining efficacy.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be positive numbers. The result will be in square meters (m²).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA instead of weight for dosing?
A: BSA correlates better with many physiological processes than weight alone, especially for medications that affect metabolic processes.

Q2: What is a normal BSA range?
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: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, other formulas include DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd formulas, but Mosteller is most commonly used due to its simplicity.

Q4: When is BSA most important?
A: Particularly important for chemotherapy, pediatric dosing, and drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.

Q5: How accurate is the Mosteller formula?
A: It's accurate for most clinical purposes, though in extreme body types (very obese or very thin), other formulas might be more precise.