The body surface area (BSA) refers to the calculated surface area of the human body. Due to the fact that it is less affected by abnormal adipose tissue mass than weight it has been considered a better indicator of the metabolic mass of the human body.
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Usage
The body surface area is used for the correction of many clinical measurements for better approximation and comparability of that respective parameter. It is expressed usually expressed in m2.
Here are some examples for its use:
- cardiac index = cardiac output / BSA
- stroke index = stroke volume / BSA
- dosage of chemotherapy
Measurement
There are many published formulas for the determination of body surface area from height and weight without the need for a direct measurement constituting a rather extensive endeavor if performed for every individual 1-4.
The apparently most widely used formulas are the following 2,3:
Du Bois formula:
- BSA = 0.007184 x weight [kg] 0.425 x height [cm] 0.725
Mosteller formula:
- BSA = SQRT(weight [kg] x height [cm] / 3600) or
- BSA = 1/60 x weight [kg] 0.5 x height [cm] 0.5
History and etymology
The first available body surface area formula was described by the German physiologist Karl M. Meeh in 1879 1. The Du Bois formula was described by the American scientist Delafield Du Bois and the American physician Eugene Floyd Dubois in 1916 4.
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