1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body. It's used in many medical contexts including drug dosage calculations and medical indicators.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The Mosteller formula provides a simple way to estimate body surface area from height and weight measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

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

4. Using the Calculator

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

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 against more complex methods.

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

Q3: How accurate is BSA calculation?
A: While useful for population averages, individual variations in body composition can affect accuracy.

Q4: When is BSA most important?
A: Particularly important for chemotherapy dosing and in pediatric medicine.

Q5: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: May be less accurate for very obese or very muscular individuals.