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Mosteller BSA Formula:
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Body Surface Area (BSA) is the calculated surface area of the human body. It's an important measurement in medicine, particularly for determining medication dosages and medical indicators that are based on body size rather than just weight.
The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:
Where:
Explanation: The Mosteller formula is one of the simplest and most commonly used methods for calculating BSA. It provides a good estimate of body surface area based on weight and height.
Details: BSA is used in many medical applications including chemotherapy dosing, fluid resuscitation calculations, burn assessment, and cardiac index calculations. It's often considered more accurate than body weight alone for these purposes.
Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0). For best results, use accurate measurements.
Q1: Why use Mosteller formula instead of other BSA formulas?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple to calculate and remember, 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. Children have smaller BSA values that increase with age.
Q3: When should BSA be used for drug dosing?
A: BSA is particularly important for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, like chemotherapy agents, where precise dosing is critical.
Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA formulas may be less accurate in extremely obese or extremely thin individuals, and in certain ethnic populations.
Q5: How does BSA relate to BMI?
A: While BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measure of body fat based on weight and height, BSA measures actual body surface area. They serve different purposes in medical assessment.