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Calculate Body Surface Area (BSA) using 8 validated medical formulas including Mosteller, DuBois, Haycock, and Boyd. Essential for chemotherapy dosing, cardiac index calculation, burn assessment, and drug dosing.
Body Surface Area (BSA) is the total surface area of the human body measured in square meters (m²). It's a critical measurement in medicine used to calculate drug dosages, assess cardiac function, determine burn severity, and normalize various physiological parameters.
BSA is more accurate than body weight alone for medical calculations because it better correlates with metabolic mass, blood volume, and organ size. The average adult male has a BSA of approximately 1.9 m², while the average adult female has a BSA of approximately 1.6 m².
| Formula | Result (m²) | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Mosteller | 0.0000 | Top |
| DuBois | 0.0000 | High |
| Haycock | 0.0000 | V.High |
| Gehan | 0.0000 | High |
| Boyd | 0.0000 | Best |
| Fujimoto | 0.0000 | High |
| Takahira | 0.0000 | High |
| Shuter | 0.0000 | V.High |
BSA is crucial for calculating chemotherapy doses, as these drugs have narrow therapeutic windows. Most cytotoxic drugs are dosed in mg/m² to normalize for body size.
Cardiac index (cardiac output divided by BSA) normalizes heart function for body size. Normal cardiac index is 2.5-4.0 L/min/m².
GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) is reported per 1.73 m² BSA to standardize kidney function across different body sizes.
BSA (m²) = √[(Height in cm × Weight in kg) / 3600]
This is the simplest and most widely used formula. It's accurate for general adult populations and is the default choice in most clinical settings.
BSA (m²) = 0.007184 × Weight^0.425 × Height^0.725
The original BSA formula from 1916. Still widely used and reliable, though slightly more complex than Mosteller.
BSA (m²) = 0.024265 × Weight^0.5378 × Height^0.3964
Most accurate for children and infants. Recommended for pediatric drug dosing and assessments.
Body Surface Area (BSA) is the total surface area of the human body measured in square meters (m²). It's crucial in medicine for calculating drug dosages (especially chemotherapy), determining cardiac index, assessing burn severity, and normalizing physiological parameters like kidney function (GFR).
The Mosteller formula is most commonly used due to its simplicity and accuracy (±1-2% error). The Boyd formula is most accurate (±0.5% error) but complex. For pediatric patients, use Haycock formula. For chemotherapy, Gehan & George is preferred. For Asian populations, Fujimoto or Takahira formulas are recommended.
Chemotherapy drugs are typically dosed in mg/m² (milligrams per square meter of BSA) to normalize dosing across different body sizes. This prevents under-dosing in larger patients and over-dosing in smaller patients, ensuring therapeutic efficacy while minimizing toxicity.
The average BSA for adult males is approximately 1.9 m², and for adult females is approximately 1.6 m². Children have smaller BSA: 10-year-olds average 1.14 m², 5-year-olds average 0.73 m², and newborns average 0.25 m².
BMI (Body Mass Index) measures weight relative to height to assess if someone is underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. BSA measures total body surface area and is used for medical calculations like drug dosing and cardiac output. BMI is for weight classification; BSA is for physiological normalization in clinical settings.
This calculator is for educational and informational purposes only. Healthcare professionals should verify BSA calculations before use in clinical decision-making, especially for drug dosing and treatment planning. This tool does not replace professional medical judgment.
Different formulas may be more appropriate for specific populations:
Comprehensive information on BSA-based chemotherapy dosing and oncology applications.
cancer.gov →Guidelines on cardiac index calculation and BSA normalization in cardiovascular assessment.
heart.org →Information on GFR normalization using BSA for kidney function assessment.
kidney.org →Research articles and clinical studies on BSA formulas and their accuracy.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov →Guidelines on burn assessment using BSA and fluid resuscitation protocols.
ameriburn.org →Our Advantage: We provide a comprehensive, medical-grade BSA calculator that goes beyond basic calculations. With 8 validated formulas, advanced clinical metrics, and extensive educational content, our calculator serves both healthcare professionals and individuals seeking accurate body surface area assessments.