What does BSA stand for in medical terminology?

In medical terminology, BSA stands for Body Surface Area. This measurement is crucial in various medical contexts, particularly in calculating dosages for medications that depend on a person’s body size. BSA is often used to assess metabolic mass and is an important factor in formulas for determining chemotherapeutic and other drug dosages, as it provides a more accurate reflection of a patient’s physiological status than weight alone.

Body Surface Area is typically calculated using formulas like the Mosteller formula or the Du Bois formula, which take into consideration both height and weight. By using BSA, healthcare professionals can tailor treatments more precisely to individual patients, improving safety and efficacy in medication administration and other clinical decisions.

The other options do not correspond to a recognized medical abbreviation or measure used in clinical practice, thus making them less relevant in this context.