1. What is Body Surface Area (BSA)?

Definition: BSA is the measured or calculated surface area of the human body, used in medical calculations.

Purpose: It's important for determining medication dosages, medical assessments, and physiological measurements.

2. How Does the Mosteller Formula Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( \text{BSA} \) — Body surface area (square meters)
• \( W \) — Weight (kilograms)
• \( H \) — Height (centimeters)

Explanation: This formula provides a simple yet accurate way to estimate body surface area from weight and height measurements.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used for chemotherapy dosing, cardiac index calculations, burn assessment, and many other medical applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the patient's weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple, validated, and recommended for general clinical use.

Q2: What's a normal BSA range?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women, but varies with size.

Q3: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: This calculator requires kg and cm. Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.4536 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm).

Q4: How accurate is BSA calculation?
A: It's an estimate - actual body surface area depends on body composition and shape.

Q5: When is BSA particularly important?
A: Especially critical for chemotherapy dosing, pediatric medicine, and burn treatment.