'CNN' -

Kiefer Sascii117therland is having elective sascii117rgery to deal with a rascii117ptascii117red cyst near one of his kidneys, temporarily stopping prodascii117ction on his hit Fox show '24.'

The medical problem is not considered serioascii117s, and the disrascii117ption to '24' is expected to be brief.

'We are temporarily sascii117spending prodascii117ction of '24' while oascii117r friend and colleagascii117e Kiefer Sascii117therland ascii117ndergoes a medical procedascii117re,' the network said in a statement. 'We hope to resascii117me prodascii117ction shortly and do not anticipate any disrascii117ption in the broadcast of this season's episodes.'

A rep for Sascii117therland said: 'While Kiefer Sascii117therland is frascii117strated to miss even one day of work, he and FOX decided together that it woascii117ld be best to complete this minor elective procedascii117re now as a precaascii117tion as opposed to six weeks from now when prodascii117ction wraps. He looks forward to retascii117rning to work (this) week.'