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 and 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 calculations, and burn assessment. It's considered more accurate than body weight alone for these purposes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is BSA important in medicine?
A: BSA helps standardize physiological measurements and drug dosages across individuals of different sizes.

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 with body size.

Q3: How accurate is the Mosteller formula?
A: It's accurate to within 1-2% of more complex calculations and is widely accepted in clinical practice.

Q4: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, including DuBois & DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd formulas, but Mosteller is simplest and most commonly used.

Q5: When is BSA not appropriate for dosing?
A: For drugs with narrow therapeutic windows or those primarily distributed in fat, weight-based dosing may be preferred.