President Is Treated For Precancerous Growths

After announcing last week that President Clinton’s annual physical had found him in “excellent health,” White House officials Monday said that they had neglected to mention that the president had several potentially precancerous growths removed from his forehead and behind his ear.

The growths, “actinic keratoses,” are common, caused by exposure to the sun. Physicians at Bethesda Naval Hospital used liquid nitrogen Friday to freeze them off. Untreated, the bumps can become cancerous, but generally aren’t a cause for concern, dermatologists said.

Clinton’s condition was disclosed after reporters asked White House press secretary Michael McCurry why the president had a red blotch on his forehead.