Body surface estimation: a critical evaluation

Abstract

Estimates of body surface area (BSA) are widely used in intensive care, cancer chemotherapy, anesthesia, hemodialysis and other critically important medical computations. Although formulas have been proposed, virtually all BSA estimates use a formula promulgated in 1916 based on a sample of twelve possibly atypical subjects. The inclusion of a computation into a computer program imparts the impression of accuracy which is not always justified. The authors have attempted to examine and compare some direct measurement methods and estimation formulas used for BSA particularly with respect to inter-method consistency and correlation with a variety of published data.