1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is a measurement of the total surface area of the human body. It's used in many medical contexts including medication dosing, chemotherapy regimens, and physiological measurements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( height \) — Height in centimeters
• \( weight \) — Weight in kilograms

Explanation: The formula calculates the approximate surface area of the body based on height and weight.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is crucial for accurate medication dosing (especially chemotherapy), calculating cardiac index, and determining renal clearance.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use BSA instead of weight for dosing?
A: BSA better correlates with metabolic processes and organ size than body weight alone, especially for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.

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: What's the difference between BSA and BMI?
A: BSA measures total body surface area while BMI (body mass index) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

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

Q5: When is BSA most important?
A: Particularly critical for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric medication, and when calculating cardiac or renal indices.