We present calculations for the nuclear level density parameter over a
wide range of nuclear mass and temperature. The hot nucleus is modele
d in a refined Thomas-Fermi approximation that allows the confinement
of the hot evaporating metastable system through an external pressure.
The position and temperature dependence of the momentum and frequency
dependent effective masses are taken into account. The agreement with
experimental data, particularly its temperature dependence, is reason
ably reproduced.