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 measurement in medicine, 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 in many medical applications including chemotherapy dosing, cardiac index calculation, burn assessment, and more accurate pediatric dosing.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA instead of weight for drug dosing?
A: BSA correlates better with many physiological processes (metabolic rate, blood volume) than body weight alone.

Q2: What are normal 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: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, other common formulas include DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd, but Mosteller is widely used for its simplicity and accuracy.

Q4: When is BSA most important?
A: Particularly crucial for chemotherapy drugs, where small dosing errors can have serious consequences.

Q5: How accurate is BSA estimation?
A: While useful, all formulas are estimates. Actual body composition and shape affect true surface area.