SKIN SPOT REMOVED IN CLINTON CHECKUP.

Byline: Associated Press

President Clinton had a precancerous skin lesion removed from his nose during his annual physical Friday. But on the plus side, his weight was the same as last year, and - to everyone's amazement after a fatty feast hours earlier - his cholesterol count went down.

``The president is in excellent overall health,'' his physician, Dr. E. Connie Mariano, said after overseeing three hours of tests at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

A liquid nitrogen treatment was used to remove an actinic keratosis from the tip of Clinton's nose. Actinic keratoses are common skin lesions among middle-aged people, usually caused by overexposure to the sun. The lesions generally are removed because of a chance they could become cancerous.

Clinton had several lesions removed from his face last year. Known for his red face and sensitive skin, Clinton now uses a heavy sun-blocking lotion.

The president - who will turn 50 in August - weighed in at 216 pounds on a 6-foot-2-inch frame. His blood pressure was 126 over 70 and his pulse was 55 - both excellent readings for a man his age.

His total cholesterol count dropped from 203 last year to 191. Generally, total cholesterol below 200 is viewed as desirable and 200-239 considered borderline high.

``He was surprised, as I think some of us were, that overall some of his test results improved somewhat from last year because, based on his gastronomic performance of yesterday and other days, we thought the results might have been somewhat different,'' presidential spokesman Mike McCurry said with a grin.

A day earlier, Clinton sat down with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to a lunch of short ribs, chicken wings, vegetable soup with meatballs, steak, lemon chicken, hash browns, green beans and apple pie.

Without specifics, McCurry said Clinton's ``good'' cholesterol was up and his ``bad'' cholesterol was down.

In recent weeks Clinton had been trying to slim down. He was disappointed he hadn't lost more weight, McCurry said. ``He pointed out that, had it not been for yesterday, he might very well have weighed in at somewhat less than last year's figure,'' McCurry said.

He said Clinton has been suffering for a year from severe heartburn, called reflux disease. For that he takes Prilosec, usually once a day, to inhibit stomach acid. McCurry said the heartburn could be triggered by stress, allergies or extensive use of the vocal chords.

The president has ``a combination of allergies (to) everything from household dust to weed and grass pollen'' and takes a prescription antihistamine, Claritin D, McCurry said.

Sports medicine experts X-rayed Clinton's left hand because he has complained of stiffness. Doctors concluded he probably had pulled a muscle playing golf.