1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It's an important measurement in medicine, particularly for calculating drug dosages and medical indicators. The Mosteller formula is one of the most commonly used equations for BSA calculation.

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 in many medical applications including chemotherapy dosing, fluid resuscitation calculations, cardiac index determination, and more. It's considered 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 multiple studies. It's one of the most commonly used BSA formulas 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. Values vary significantly based on body size.

Q3: When is BSA used in medicine?
A: BSA is commonly used for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric drug dosing, calculating cardiac index, and determining burn surface area.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA formulas may be less accurate in very obese or very muscular individuals. Some medications may require adjustment beyond BSA calculations.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: This calculator uses metric units (kg and cm). For imperial units, convert weight to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and height to cm (1 inch = 2.54 cm).