This version was machine-translated from German and has not been medically reviewed. The authoritative version is the German version.
mg/m² body surface area dose
Dose from mg/m² and body surface area (Mosteller, DuBois, Haycock) from height and weight
Scientific basis
Control
Dose calculations for children are error-prone (decimal point errors, units, confusion of mg and ml). The calculated amount must be checked against the prescribing information or hospital standard and the maximum dose; the calculation line makes cross-checking easier.
What body surface area is needed for
In pediatrics, some drugs – especially in oncology – are dosed not by weight but by body surface area, because metabolism and renal function follow it better than weight. Echocardiographic reference values, renal function (GFR) and the extent of burns are also related to body surface area.
Why the formulas calculate differently
All three formulas are approximations from measurement series in a few individuals. In adults they differ from one another by a few percent, in infants more so – Haycock was specifically tested in children. Which formula a clinic uses is up to the clinic; that is why all three are shown side by side here.
Calculation aid for healthcare professionals: the calculator reproduces what the sources cited assign to the inputs. Clinical assessment and every treatment decision remain with the treating physician. Inputs and results are not stored.
Frequently asked questions
mg/m² body surface area dose: What does this calculator compute?
Calculates a dose in mg from mg/m² and body surface area; body surface area is determined from height and weight by Mosteller (default), DuBois or Haycock, optionally also the volume from the preparation strength.
mg/m² body surface area dose: Which sources is this calculator based on?
Lack JA, Stuart-Taylor ME: Calculation of drug dosage and body surface area of children (Br J Anaesth 78:601–605) (1997); Mosteller RD, N Engl J Med 317:1098: Simplified calculation of body-surface area (1987); Du Bois D, Du Bois EF, Arch Intern Med 17:863–871: A formula to estimate the approximate surface area if height and weight be known (1916); Haycock GB, Schwartz GJ, Wisotsky DH, J Pediatr 93:62–66: Geometric method for measuring body surface area: A height-weight formula validated in infants, children, and adults (1978)