1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

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

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. This provides a simple yet accurate estimation of body surface area.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is crucial for determining chemotherapy drug dosages, calculating cardiac index, adjusting renal clearance measurements, and assessing metabolic rate. It's more accurate than body weight alone for these purposes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0). For best results, use accurate 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 against more complex methods. 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 with body size.

Q3: When should BSA be used for drug dosing?
A: BSA is particularly important for chemotherapy drugs, pediatric medications, and other drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.

Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: The formula may be less accurate for extremely obese or extremely underweight individuals. Other formulas may be more appropriate in these cases.

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