MOSTELLERBody Surface Area Calculation
Anthropometric Data
Calculated BSA
Enter height & weight
The Mosteller formula is widely accepted due to its simplicity and accuracy compared to the DuBois formula. It is the standard for chemotherapy dose calculations in most clinical centers.
Guidelines & Evidence
Verified
Last Review: 2026
When to Use
Clinical Use
Calculating the dose of almost all cytotoxic chemotherapy agents (e.g., Fluorouracil, Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin).
Standardizing physiological measurements across patients of varying sizes.
Used in clinical trial protocols to ensure uniform drug exposure.
How it Works
Mosteller Formula
BSA (m²) = √([Height (cm) * Weight (kg)] / 3600)
Interpretation
The average adult BSA is typically cited as 1.73 m², but individual values vary widely. Most oncology systems cap the maximum BSA at 2.0 or 2.2 m² for safety (to prevent overdosing in obese patients), though this remains a subject of active debate.
Clinical Pearls
The Obese Patient Dilemma
ASCO guidelines recommend using the actual body weight (rather than "ideal" or "adjusted" weight) to calculate BSA for chemotherapy dosing. Capping the BSA or using adjusted weights can lead to significant under-dosing and worse oncologic outcomes.
Formula Reliability
While multiple BSA formulas exist (Mosteller, DuBois, Haycock), the differences in results are typically less than 3% in adults. Mosteller is favored in clinical practice for its simplicity and robustness.
The Evidence
Key Reference
Simplified calculation of body-surface area
Mosteller RD • New England Journal of Medicine. 1987;317(17):1098
Last Comprehensive Review: 2026