1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the calculated surface area of a human body. It is often used in medical practice to calculate drug dosages and medical indicators. The Mosteller formula is one of the most commonly used methods for BSA calculation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)
• \( BSA \) — Body Surface Area in square meters (m²)

Explanation: The formula calculates the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600 to estimate body surface area.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used in many medical applications including chemotherapy dosing, calculating cardiac index, and determining renal clearance rates. It provides a more accurate measure than body weight alone for many medical calculations.

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 use Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple to calculate and has been validated in numerous studies. It's widely accepted in clinical practice.

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: When is BSA most important?
A: Particularly important for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric dosing, and when calculating cardiac or renal indices.

Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: Less accurate at extremes of body size (very obese or very thin individuals) and in certain ethnic populations.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The calculator requires kg and cm. Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm) first.