1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

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.

2. Mosteller Formula Explained

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)

Explanation: The Mosteller formula is one of the simplest and most commonly used BSA calculation methods, providing results comparable to more complex formulas.

3. Clinical Importance of BSA

Details: BSA is used to calculate drug dosages for chemotherapy, cardiac index, and other medical parameters where body size affects pharmacokinetics.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be positive numbers for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple, validated, and widely accepted in clinical practice, with accuracy comparable to more complex formulas.

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 crucial for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric dosing, and when calculating cardiac or renal indices.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA doesn't account for body composition (muscle vs fat) and may not be ideal for obese or very muscular individuals.

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