PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta will have thyroid surgery next week to remove a potentially cancerous tumor.

The tumor was discovered during a preseason physical. Maatta underwent further tests before team doctors came to a diagnosis. He is scheduled to miss four weeks but is cleared to play until the surgery.

“I feel fine,” Maatta said. “The only thing that’s different is now I know that I have a cancer. It’s tough news but I really don’t think it has affected me much.”

Team doctor Dharmesh Vyas said there is an “85 percent chance” the tumor is cancerous but added the 20-year-old from Finland will not need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Maatta called the diagnosis “a bit of a surprise” but kept the news from most his teammates when he learned of his condition three weeks ago.

“I’ve been talking to doc a lot, to trainers, finding out everything I can about the cancer,” he said. “But I know I’m going to be fine and I really haven’t been that worried about it because I know we have a great medical staff here and I know they’re going to take care of me.”

Maatta has one goal and four assists in seven games.