1. What is the Mosteller Formula?

The Mosteller formula is a simple and widely used method to calculate body surface area (BSA) from height and weight. It's particularly important in chemotherapy dosing to ensure accurate medication administration based on body size.

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 the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600, providing BSA in square meters (m²).

3. Importance of BSA in Chemotherapy

Details: BSA is crucial for chemotherapy dosing as it provides a more accurate measure of metabolic mass than body weight alone, helping to optimize drug efficacy while minimizing toxicity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Ensure measurements are accurate for reliable results. The calculator will compute BSA in square meters.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA for chemotherapy dosing?
A: BSA correlates better with metabolic processes and drug clearance than body weight alone, leading to more accurate dosing.

Q2: What are typical 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 should BSA be recalculated?
A: BSA should be recalculated if the patient's weight changes by more than 10% or if there's significant change in body composition.

Q4: Are there other BSA formulas?
A: Yes, other formulas include Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George, but Mosteller is most commonly used for chemotherapy.

Q5: Is BSA used for all chemotherapy drugs?
A: Most chemotherapy drugs use BSA-based dosing, but some newer targeted therapies use fixed dosing regardless of BSA.