Authoritative data source & methodology

This tool implements widely accepted BSA equations from peer-reviewed literature:

  • Mosteller (1987) – N Engl J Med; BSA \(=\sqrt{\frac{\text{height (cm)}\times \text{weight (kg)}}{3600}}\).
  • Du Bois & Du Bois (1916) – Arch Intern Med; \(BSA = 0.007184 \times H^{0.725}\times W^{0.425}\) with H in cm and W in kg.
  • Haycock et al. (1978) – Clin Pediatr; \(BSA = 0.024265 \times H^{0.3964}\times W^{0.5378}\).
  • Gehan & George (1970) – Cancer Chemother Rep; \(BSA = 0.0235 \times H^{0.42246}\times W^{0.51456}\).

Tutti i calcoli si basano rigorosamente sulle formule e sui dati forniti da questa fonte.

The formulas (LaTeX)

Mosteller: \[ \text{BSA}_{\text{Mosteller}} = \sqrt{\frac{H\_{\text{cm}}\times W\_{\text{kg}}}{3600}} \] Du Bois & Du Bois: \[ \text{BSA}_{\text{DuBois}} = 0.007184 \times H\_{\text{cm}}^{0.725}\times W\_{\text{kg}}^{0.425} \] Haycock: \[ \text{BSA}_{\text{Haycock}} = 0.024265 \times H\_{\text{cm}}^{0.3964}\times W\_{\text{kg}}^{0.5378} \] Gehan–George: \[ \text{BSA}_{\text{Gehan}} = 0.0235 \times H\_{\text{cm}}^{0.42246}\times W\_{\text{kg}}^{0.51456} \]

Glossary of variables

Symbol Name Units Notes
H Height cm (or in → cm) Converter applied when US units are selected.
W Weight kg (or lb → kg) Converter applied when US units are selected.
BSA Body Surface Area m² Reported to 3 decimals for clinical readability.

How it works: a step-by-step example

Example inputs

  • Height = 170 cm
  • Weight = 65 kg

Calculation (Mosteller)

Plug into \(\sqrt{\frac{H \times W}{3600}}\) ⇒ \(\sqrt{\frac{170 \times 65}{3600}}=\sqrt{3.0694}=1.752\ \text{m}^2\) (≈ 1.75 m²).

Interpretation

Values around 1.6–2.0 m² are common in adults; use institutional guidance when BSA informs dosing.

Frequently asked questions

Which BSA value should I chart?

Use the method your institution specifies. If none is specified, Mosteller is a pragmatic and widely accepted default.

Are inputs required?

Yes, height and weight are required. The calculator validates ranges on blur and provides fixes.

How many decimals are shown?

Three decimals for BSA (e.g., 1.732 m²), balancing readability and precision.

Is this tool appropriate for pediatrics?

Commonly, yes; however, pediatric dosing should always follow specialist protocols.

Why do formulas differ?

They originate from different datasets and regression methods. Differences are usually small for typical adult sizes.

Tool developed by Ugo Candido.
Content verified by CalcDomain Editorial Board.
Ultima revisione per l'accuratezza in data: