1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It is used in many medical tasks including medication dosages and medical classifications. The Mosteller formula is one of the most widely used BSA calculation methods.

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.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate medical indicators like cardiac index and chemotherapy dosages. It's more accurate than body weight alone for many medical purposes.

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 many studies, making it one of the most commonly used BSA formulas.

Q2: What are typical BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women. Newborns have about 0.25 m².

Q3: When is BSA used in medicine?
A: BSA is used for chemotherapy dosing, calculating cardiac index, renal clearance, and other physiologic measurements.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA formulas may be less accurate in extremely obese or muscular individuals, and in children.

Q5: Should BSA be used for all drug dosing?
A: No, only certain medications (like chemotherapy) are dosed by BSA. Most drugs use weight-based or fixed dosing.