WASHINGTON (AP) - Doctors are pronouncing President Clinton (news - web sites) in good health as he prepares to leave the White House but say a small, possibly cancerous, lesion on his back needs attention.

The medical report was issued Friday after Clinton underwent a physical exam at Bethesda Naval Hospital in suburban Maryland.

It also reported that Clinton's cholesterol had risen above normal, which the president attributed to lack of exercise and too many Christmas goodies.

Dermatologists said they found a small, flat lesion on Clinton's back. ``He's had sun-damage spots before but this is the first time he's had spots suspicious for skin cancer,'' said Dr. David Corbett, retired chairman of the hospital's dermatology department.

Doctors said the spot was ``very suspicious'' for basal cell carcinoma, so it was biopsied, and the test results will be released next week.

``Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer,'' Corbett said. ``It's a little locally growing type of skin cancer, not a threat to his health or anything. It's a very small spot.''

Doctors said the lesion could be treated on an outpatient basis.

Aside from the lesion and his high cholesterol, they said, Clinton is in good health and ready to resume life as a private citizen.

``He's been undergoing a lot of busy activity and traveling so he was, I don't think, in the top shape he wanted to be in,'' said Rear Adm. E. Connie Mariano, the White House's senior physician.

Clinton, returning to the White House, admitted that his eating and exercise habits were part of the problem.

``My cholesterol is a little too high because I haven't exercised and I ate all that Christmas dessert,'' he said. ``But in six months, it will be back to normal.''

Mariano said Clinton will be put on medication to keep the cholesterol down.

When Clinton first came to Bethesda for his presidential physical, in 1994, he weighed 210 pounds, his cholesterol level was 204 and his blood pressure was 132 over 74 with a resting pulse of 57.

In the sixth and final one, doctors said the 6-foot-2 Clinton weighed 214 pounds, his cholesterol level was 233 and he had a blood pressure of 136 over 84 with a resting pulse of 60.

Ideal total cholesterol levels are 120 to 200. Above 200, doctors typically urge diet and exercise; above 240, medications often are considered.

(From Yahoo)