Editorial Type:
Analytic Techniques

Calculation of body surface area via computed tomography–guided modeling in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Ashley M. Zehnder Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305.

Search for other papers by Ashley M. Zehnder in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 DVM
,
Michelle G. Hawkins Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616.

Search for other papers by Michelle G. Hawkins in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 VMD
,
Earl A. Trestrail Pacific Crest Medical Physics Inc, 3031 W Sacramento Ave, Chico, CA 95973.

Search for other papers by Earl A. Trestrail in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 MS
,
Randall W. Holt Pacific Crest Medical Physics Inc, 3031 W Sacramento Ave, Chico, CA 95973.

Search for other papers by Randall W. Holt in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 PhD
, and
Michael S. Kent Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616.

Search for other papers by Michael S. Kent in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
 MAS, DVM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.73.12.1859
Volume/Issue:
Volume 73: Issue 12
Online Publication Date:
01 Dec 2012
Restricted access
Sign In Reprints and Permissions Purchase Article

Abstract

Objective—To optimize the use of CT-guided modeling for the calculation of body surface area (BSA) in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Animals—12 domestic rabbits.

Procedures—Adult rabbits (body weight, 1 to > 4 kg) that were client-owned animals undergoing CT for disease diagnosis or deceased laboratory animals donated from other research projects were scanned with a CT scanner. Images were transferred to a radiation therapy planning software program. Image slices were captured as contiguous slices at 100 kVp and 100 mA and processed to 0.1-cm-thick sections. The length of each contoured slice was summed to calculate a final BSA measurement. Nonlinear regression analysis was then used to derive an equation for the calculation of BSA in rabbits.

Results—The constant calculated by use of this method was 9.9 (range, 9.59 to 10). The R2 for the goodness of fit was 0.9332. The equation that best described BSA as a function of body weight for domestic rabbits with this method was as follows: BSA = (9.9 × [body weight {in grams}]2/3)/10,000.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The BSA calculated via the CT-guided method yielded results similar to those obtained with equations for other similarly sized mammals and verified the use of such equations for rabbits. Additionally, this technique can be used for species that lack equations for the accurate calculation of BSA.

Abstract

Objective—To optimize the use of CT-guided modeling for the calculation of body surface area (BSA) in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Animals—12 domestic rabbits.

Procedures—Adult rabbits (body weight, 1 to > 4 kg) that were client-owned animals undergoing CT for disease diagnosis or deceased laboratory animals donated from other research projects were scanned with a CT scanner. Images were transferred to a radiation therapy planning software program. Image slices were captured as contiguous slices at 100 kVp and 100 mA and processed to 0.1-cm-thick sections. The length of each contoured slice was summed to calculate a final BSA measurement. Nonlinear regression analysis was then used to derive an equation for the calculation of BSA in rabbits.

Results—The constant calculated by use of this method was 9.9 (range, 9.59 to 10). The R2 for the goodness of fit was 0.9332. The equation that best described BSA as a function of body weight for domestic rabbits with this method was as follows: BSA = (9.9 × [body weight {in grams}]2/3)/10,000.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The BSA calculated via the CT-guided method yielded results similar to those obtained with equations for other similarly sized mammals and verified the use of such equations for rabbits. Additionally, this technique can be used for species that lack equations for the accurate calculation of BSA.

Contributor Notes

Supported by the National Center for Research Resources (grant No. UL1 RR024146) and the National Institutes of Health Roadmap for Medical Research.

Presented in abstract form at the annual meeting of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, Seattle, August 2011.

The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the National Center for Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.

The authors thank Roland Jurisch for assistance with data analysis and Richard Larson for assistance with obtaining the CT images.

Address correspondence to Dr. Kent (mskent@ucdavis.edu).
Cover American Journal of Veterinary Research
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Publication Date:
01 Dec 2012

  • 1. Pinkel D. The use of body surface area as a criterion of drug dosage in cancer chemotherapy. Cancer Res 1958;18:853–856.

  • 2. Bradfield HS. The determination of the surface area of women and its use in expressing basal metabolic rate. Am J Physiol 1927;82:570–576.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 3. Dubois D, Dubois EF. The measurement of the surface area of man. Arch Intern Med 1915;15:868–881.

  • 4. 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.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 5. Meeh K. Oberflächenmessungen des menschlichen Körpers. Z Biol 1879;15:425–458.

  • 6. Spector WS. Surface area relationship: mammals In: Spector WS, ed. Handbook of biological data. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1956;175.

  • 7. Bartorelli C, Gerola A. Tidal volume, oxygen uptake, cardiac output, and body surface in the cat. Am J Physiol 1963;205:588–590.

  • 8. Liu CT, Higbee GA. Determination of body surface area in the rhesus monkey. J Appl Physiol 1976;40:101–104.

  • 9. Spiers DE, Candas V. Relationship of skin surface area to body mass in the immature rat: a reexamination. J Appl Physiol 1984;56:240–243.

  • 10. Liu CT. Changes in body weight and body surface area in strain 13 guinea pigs infected with Pichinde virus. Life Sci 1989;44:95–101.

  • 11. Conklin PM. Body surface area in the infant rat. J Appl Physiol 1975;39:335–336.

  • 12. Graham JE, Kent MS, Theon A. Current therapies in exotic animal oncology. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2004;7:757–781,vii.

  • 13. Sawyer M, Ratain MJ. Body surface area as a determinant of pharmacokinetics and drug dosing. Invest New Drugs 2001;19:171–177.

  • 14. Grochow LB, Baraldi C, Noe D. Is dose normalization to weight or body surface area useful in adults? J Natl Cancer Inst 1990;82:323–325.

  • 15. Baker SD, Verweij J, Rowinsky EK, et alRole of body surface area in dosing of investigational anticancer agents in adults, 1991–2001. J Natl Cancer Inst 2002;94:1883–1888.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 16. Chun R, Garrett LD, Vail DM. Cancer chemotherapy. In: Withrow SJ, Vail DM, eds. Withrow and MacEwen's small animal clinical oncology. 4th ed. St Louis: Saunders, 2007;163–192.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

Advertisement