How it's calculated
The Mosteller formula (√(height × weight / 3600)) is the simplest and most widely used in current practice. The DuBois formula (0.007184 × height^0.725 × weight^0.425) was the original 1916 derivation and remains in use in some chemotherapy protocols.
Typical adult reference range
| Reference | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Average adult BSA | ~1.7 m² |
| "Standard" BSA used historically for some fixed-dose reasoning | 1.73 m² |
Clinical use
- BSA is used to dose many chemotherapy agents, since drug clearance correlates better with body surface area than with weight alone for many cytotoxic drugs.
- It's also used in burns assessment (alongside the Rule of Nines or Lund-Browder chart) and in some cardiac index and renal function calculations.
- The Mosteller and DuBois formulas typically agree within about 0.1 m² for most adult body types — larger discrepancies can occur at extremes of height or weight.
- Always confirm which formula a specific chemotherapy protocol or institution expects before using a calculated BSA for dosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is body surface area used for?
BSA is most commonly used to dose chemotherapy drugs, since it correlates better with drug clearance than body weight alone for many cytotoxic agents — it's also used in burns assessment and some cardiac calculations.
What's the difference between the Mosteller and DuBois formulas?
Mosteller is a simpler formula that's now most widely used in practice; DuBois is the original 1916 formula, derived from a small sample, and remains in use in some specific chemotherapy protocols. The two usually agree closely.
What is a normal BSA for an adult?
A typical adult BSA is around 1.7 m², though this varies with height and weight — there's no single 'normal' value in the way there is for something like BMI, since BSA is used more for dosing calculations than as a health indicator itself.
Which BSA formula should I use for chemotherapy dosing?
Follow the specific protocol or institutional policy for the drug being dosed — some historically specify DuBois, while Mosteller is now more broadly used. When in doubt, check with pharmacy.
References
- Mosteller RD. Simplified calculation of body-surface area. N Engl J Med. 1987;317:1098.
- Du Bois D, Du Bois EF. A formula to estimate the approximate surface area if height and weight be known. Arch Intern Med. 1916;17:863-871.
- Sacco JJ, et al. The average body surface area of adult cancer patients in the UK. PLoS One. 2010;5:e8933.