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.

2. How Does the Mosteller Formula Work?

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 formulas in clinical practice. It provides a good approximation of body surface area with just weight and height measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used to calculate medical parameters like cardiac index, chemotherapy dosages, and glomerular filtration rate. It's more accurate than body weight alone for many medical calculations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

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. It's easy to calculate and remember.

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 values that increase with age.

Q3: When is BSA used in medicine?
A: BSA is commonly used for chemotherapy dosing, cardiac output calculations, and adjusting drug dosages for children.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA doesn't account for body composition (muscle vs fat). Other methods may be needed for obese or extremely muscular individuals.

Q5: What other BSA formulas exist?
A: Other formulas include Du Bois, Haycock, and Gehan-George formulas, but Mosteller is most commonly used today.