1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It is used in many medical measurements including medication dosages and medical classifications. The Mosteller formula is one of the most widely used BSA calculation methods.

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 formula calculates BSA by taking the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used in medicine to calculate drug dosages, determine chemotherapy doses, adjust renal function tests, and index cardiac output measurements. It provides a more accurate measure of metabolic mass than body weight alone.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be positive numbers. For accurate results, use precise measurements.

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 in both adult and pediatric populations, making it widely applicable.

Q2: What are typical BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women. Newborns average 0.25 m², while 9-year-olds average 1.07 m².

Q3: When is BSA most important?
A: BSA is particularly important for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric dosing, and when calculating doses for drugs with narrow therapeutic indices.

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 obese or extremely muscular individuals.

Q5: How often should BSA be recalculated?
A: For chemotherapy patients, BSA should be recalculated at each treatment cycle if there has been significant weight change (>10%).